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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats

Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats

Published on: October 16, 2010

Metals and breast cancer.

Celia Byrne¹, Shailaja D Divekar, Geoffrey B Storchan

¹Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia

|January 23, 2013

Summary

Metalloestrogens, like cadmium, activate the estrogen receptor, mimicking estradiol. This review explores how cadmium and other metals act as estrogens and their potential link to breast cancer.

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Environmental Toxicology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Metalloestrogens are metal compounds that can activate estrogen receptors (ERs) without estradiol.
They are classified into metal/metalloid anions (e.g., arsenite, selenite) and bivalent cationic metals (e.g., cadmium, lead, nickel).
Cadmium, a prevalent environmental contaminant, is the most studied metalloestrogen and lacks known physiological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current understanding of the mechanisms by which cadmium and other bivalent cationic metals activate estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα).
To summarize in vitro and in vivo evidence supporting cadmium's function as an estrogen.
To discuss the potential role of cadmium exposure in the development of breast cancer.

Main Methods:

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Literature review of studies investigating metalloestrogen mechanisms.
Analysis of in vitro assays assessing ERα activation by metals.
Examination of in vivo studies evaluating the estrogenic effects of cadmium.

Main Results:

Cadmium and other bivalent cations can bind to and activate ERα, exhibiting estrogenic activity.
Evidence indicates that cadmium can mimic estradiol's effects in biological systems.
The review highlights the potential for cadmium to contribute to estrogen-dependent processes, including breast cancer.

Conclusions:

Cadmium and related bivalent metals function as environmental estrogens by activating ERα.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for assessing the health risks associated with heavy metal exposure.
Further research is warranted to elucidate the full impact of cadmium on endocrine disruption and cancer development.