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Bisphenol A exposure modulates ovarian cancer gene expression and oxidative stress markers: a case-control study.

Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 2026 Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Shimaa Ahmed Alsaeed, Ahmed M Lymona, Adel Atef, Asmaa Mohammad Moawad, Heba Morsi, Marwa Alkaffas, Auhood Nassar, Heba Mohamed Aboubakr

Summary

In a case-control study at Cairo's National Cancer Institute, researchers measured bisphenol A (BPA) levels and oxidative stress markers in 30 ovarian cancer patients versus 30 healthy controls. Patients had higher urinary BPA, elevated reactive oxygen species, lower antioxidant enzyme activity, and altered KRT4 gene expression, linking BPA exposure to molecular changes associated with ovarian cancer.

In this case-control study conducted at Cairo's National Cancer Institute, the association between bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and ovarian cancer was investigated. BPA levels in the urine, oxidative stress markers (reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity), and Keratin 4 (KRT4) gene expression were analyzed in 30 patients and 30 controls. Significant risk factors for BPA exposure included consuming microwave meals, consuming canned beverages, using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food storage, eating fast food, handling thermal paper, exposure to dust, and recurrent hospitalizations. Compared with normal controls, ovarian cancer patients presented increased BPA levels, ROS, and KRT4 expression, along with reduced SOD activity (p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between BPA and KRT4, indicating that KRT4 may be a potential biomarker. The cutoff values for urinary BPA and KRT4 achieved 100 % sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing patients from controls. These findings suggest that BPA plays a role in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, likely through oxidative stress and gene dysregulation. This study emphasizes the importance of minimizing BPA exposure (e.g., by reducing the use of canned or packaged foods) and calls for larger studies to further investigate the role of EDCs in hormone-dependent cancers.

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