Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics promote chemoresistance by mediating lipid metabolism and suppressing pyroptosis in colorectal cancer

This study found that microplastics can make colorectal cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Cancer cells absorb microplastics through a protein called clathrin, which triggers increased fat absorption and suppresses a cell death pathway that drugs normally rely on. These findings suggest that microplastic accumulation in the gut could potentially interfere with cancer treatment effectiveness.

2025 APOPTOSIS 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on chemo-resistance and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer

For the first time, researchers confirmed the presence of microplastics in human colorectal cancer tissue and showed in animal models that microplastics increased cancer rates and made tumors more resistant to chemotherapy drugs. The study found that microplastics trigger a cell survival mechanism called autophagy that helps cancer cells resist treatment, suggesting plastic pollution could complicate cancer outcomes.

2025 APOPTOSIS 18 citations
Article Tier 2

In vitro evidence and integrative bioinformatics identify the SGLT2-PPARγ axis as a target against polyethylene microplastic-driven metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer cells

Researchers used in vitro experiments and bioinformatics to identify the SGLT2-PPARgamma axis as a molecular target affected by polyethylene microplastic exposure in colorectal cancer cells. The study suggests that microplastics may influence metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, highlighting a potential interplay between environmental pollutants and metabolic regulation.

2026 Journal of Translational Medicine
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in endometrial cancer tissues and its metabolic impact

Researchers examined microplastic levels in endometrial cancer tissues compared to normal tissue and found that cancer tissues contained significantly higher concentrations of plastic particles. The most common plastics detected were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Metabolic analysis revealed that microplastic presence was associated with changes in cancer-related metabolic pathways, suggesting that microplastics may play a role in promoting tumor development through metabolic reprogramming.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the prognostic implications of PET microplastic degradation products in colorectal cancer: insights from an integrated computational analysis on glucocorticoid pathway–mediated mechanisms

Researchers used network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking to investigate how PET degradation products—ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid—affect colorectal cancer prognosis through the glucocorticoid signaling pathway. The analysis identified 43 shared target genes, suggesting that PET breakdown products may worsen colorectal cancer outcomes by dysregulating glucocorticoid-mediated anti-inflammatory and cell survival signals.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Health Research
Article Tier 2

Exploring the prognostic implications of PET microplastic degradation products in colorectal cancer: insights from an integrated computational analysis on glucocorticoid pathway–mediated mechanisms

Combining network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking, this study found that PET plastic degradation products ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid may influence colorectal cancer prognosis through 43 shared genes linked to TNF/IL-17 signaling and glucocorticoid-mediated metabolic pathways.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Exploring the prognostic implications of PET microplastic degradation products in colorectal cancer: insights from an integrated computational analysis on glucocorticoid pathway–mediated mechanisms

This computational study investigated how PET microplastic degradation products affect colorectal cancer prognosis, identifying 43 genes linking ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid exposure to cancer pathogenesis via chronic inflammation mediated through TNF/IL-17 and glucocorticoid metabolic pathways.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Impact of Plastic-Related Compounds on P-Glycoprotein and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein In Vitro

Researchers examined how plastic-related compounds affect P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein in vitro, finding that plasticizers and plastic additives can inhibit these critical cellular defense transporters involved in detoxification.

2023 Molecules 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and analysis of microplastics in peritumoral and tumor tissues of colorectal cancer

Researchers examined tumor and surrounding tissue from colorectal cancer patients and found a diverse range of microplastics, including PVC and polyethylene, with tumor tissues containing a greater variety and higher distribution of microplastics than adjacent healthy tissue. A protein called clathrin that helps cells absorb materials was highly active in the cancer tissue, suggesting it may facilitate microplastic uptake and pointing to a potential link between microplastic exposure and colorectal cancer development.

2025 Scientific Reports 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote colitis-associated cancer by disrupting lipid metabolism and inducing DNA damage

In a mouse study, polystyrene nanoplastics accelerated the development of colon cancer linked to inflammatory bowel disease by disrupting fat metabolism and causing DNA damage in intestinal cells. The nanoplastics also altered gut bacteria and increased intestinal inflammation, suggesting that plastic particle exposure could worsen outcomes for people already at risk for colon cancer.

2025 Environment International 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Cell Specific Metabolomic and Fluxomic Responses to Polylactic Acid Nanoplastics Exposure in Human Intestinal Cells

Metabolomic and fluxomic analysis of human intestinal cells (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX) exposed to PLA nanoplastics revealed cell-type-specific metabolic reprogramming, with changes in glycolysis, TCA cycle flux, and amino acid metabolism suggesting altered energy handling in intestinal epithelium.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division

Researchers exposed human colorectal cancer cells to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found the particles persisted inside cells without being eliminated, were passed from parent to daughter cells during division, and significantly increased cell migration -- a key step in cancer spreading. These findings suggest microplastics could act as hidden promoters of tumor progression in the gut, where plastic exposure through food is highest.

2024 Chemosphere 84 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of environmental metabolism disrupting chemicals and effect biomarkers associating disease risks: Where exposomics meets metabolomics

This review examines how environmental chemicals, including contaminants associated with plastics, can disrupt human metabolism and contribute to conditions like obesity and diabetes. Researchers mapped the connections between chemical exposure and changes in metabolic biomarkers that signal disease risk. The study highlights the emerging field of metabolism-disrupting chemicals and the importance of understanding how everyday environmental exposures influence long-term metabolic health.

2021 Environment International 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbiology combined with metabonomics revealing the response of soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions exposed to phthalic acid esters

Researchers examined how common plastic plasticizers (phthalic acid esters) affect soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions using genomic sequencing and metabolomics. They found that while plasticizers did not significantly change bacterial diversity in the short term, they altered community structure and disrupted metabolic pathways, with dibutyl phthalate affecting 172 metabolites and 43 metabolic pathways. The study also identified certain soil bacteria with potential to degrade these plasticizer compounds.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyvinyl chloride microplastics exposure accelerates endometrial cancer progression via regulating AHR/CYP1A1 signaling pathway

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles from PVC (a common type of plastic) can make endometrial cancer grow and spread faster in lab studies using human cells and mice. This matters because PVC microplastics are everywhere in our environment - from food packaging to water bottles - and endometrial cancer rates are rising in women. The research suggests that reducing exposure to plastic particles could be important for preventing this type of cancer.

2026 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolites research trend: a bibliometric analysis

This bibliometric analysis mapped research trends on di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its metabolites, identifying growth areas, major contributors, and gaps in understanding human exposure, metabolism, and health effects of this common plasticizer.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Microplastic changes during the development of cervical cancer and its effects on the metabolomic profiles of cancer tissues

Researchers found microplastics in cervical cancer tissue, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types, and levels increased as the cancer progressed to more advanced stages. The microplastics appeared to alter the chemical environment within the cancer tissue, suggesting they may play a role in how cervical cancer develops, though more research is needed to confirm a causal link.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro and nano-particles induce metabolic rewiring in normal human colon cells: A risk factor for human health

Researchers exposed normal human colon cells to polystyrene micro and nanoplastic particles and observed significant metabolic changes in the cells. The study found that these plastic particles altered energy metabolism and cellular pathways in ways that could increase vulnerability to disease. These findings raise concerns that routine ingestion of microplastics through contaminated food may affect normal intestinal cell function in humans.

2022 Chemosphere 93 citations
Article Tier 2

DEHP chronic exposure disturbs the gut microbial community and metabolic homeostasis: Gender-based differences in zebrafish

Chronic exposure of zebrafish to DEHP — a phthalate plasticizer found in many plastic products — from embryo to adulthood disrupted gut microbial communities and metabolic balance, with effects that differed between males and females. This suggests that phthalate exposure from plastic products may alter gut health and metabolism in ways that could be relevant to human health.

2020 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of a Modified Fenton Process on the Degradation of a Component Leached from Microplastics in Bottom Sediments

Researchers tested a modified chemical process (Fenton reaction) for breaking down di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer that leaches from microplastics into sediments. The process showed promising results for degrading this hard-to-remove contaminant, which is associated with hormone disruption.

2019 Catalysts 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Tumour-infiltrating microplastics disrupt the JAK-STAT-microbiota axis to promote immunotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer

Researchers isolated microplastics from colorectal cancer tumor tissues and blood samples and examined their properties and effects on cancer progression. They found that tumor-infiltrating microplastics disrupted the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and altered gut microbiota composition, potentially reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The study suggests that microplastic presence in tumors may be a factor worth investigating in cancer treatment outcomes.

2026 Molecular Cancer
Article Tier 2

Why Is Colorectal Cancer Occurring Earlier? Metabolic Dysfunction, Underrecognized Carcinogens, and Emerging Controversies

Researchers reviewed the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in people under 50, synthesizing epidemiological, molecular, and multi-omics evidence that implicates metabolic dysfunction, accelerated epigenetic aging, gut microbiome dysbiosis, and modern environmental exposures including micro- and nanoplastics as converging contributors to this trend.

2026 Current Obesity Reports
Article Tier 2

Effect of paclitaxel octreotide conjugate on human ovarian paclitaxel-resistant cell xenograft tumor model and the mechanism underlying reversal of paclitaxel resistance

This paper is not relevant to microplastics — it examines the efficacy of a paclitaxel-octreotide conjugate for overcoming drug resistance in human ovarian cancer cell xenograft models.

2023 Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Article Tier 2

Effects of prenatal exposure to phthalates and Hexamoll® DINCH derived from urinary untargeted metabolomics analysis

This study examined how prenatal exposure to phthalates and their substitute DINCH—chemicals used as plasticizers in plastic products—affected metabolic processes in children. Metabolomics analysis revealed biological changes linked to plasticizer exposure, raising concerns about effects on early childhood development.

2021 ISEE Conference Abstracts