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Updated: Feb 21, 2026
Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Identification of Linkages between EDCs in Personal Care Products and Breast Cancer through Data Integration Combined
Hyeri Jeong1,2, Jongwoon Kim3,4, Youngjun Kim5,6
1Environmental Safety Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Europe, Campus E 7.1, Saarbruecken D-66123, Germany. h.jeong@kist-europe.de.
Abstract:
Approximately 1000 chemicals have been reported to possibly have endocrine disrupting effects, some of which are used in consumer products, such as personal care products (PCPs) and cosmetics. We conducted data integration combined with gene network analysis to: (i) identify causal molecular mechanisms between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in PCPs and breast cancer; and (ii) screen candidate EDCs associated with breast cancer. Among EDCs used in PCPs, four EDCs having correlation with breast cancer were selected, and we curated 27 common interacting genes between those EDCs and breast cancer to perform the gene network analysis. Based on the gene network analysis, ESR1, TP53, NCOA1, AKT1, and BCL6 were found to be key genes to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of EDCs in the development of breast cancer. Using GeneMANIA, we additionally predicted 20 genes which could interact with the 27 common genes. In total, 47 genes combining the common and predicted genes were functionally grouped with the gene ontology and KEGG pathway terms. With those genes, we finally screened candidate EDCs for their potential to increase breast cancer risk. This study highlights that our approach can provide insights to understand mechanisms of breast cancer and identify potential EDCs which are in association with breast cancer.
Insights
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in personal care products may increase breast cancer risk. This study identified key genes and candidate EDCs linked to breast cancer development, offering insights into molecular mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in consumer products like personal care products (PCPs).
- Some EDCs are suspected of contributing to breast cancer development.
- Understanding the molecular links between EDCs and breast cancer is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular mechanisms connecting EDCs in PCPs to breast cancer.
- To screen for candidate EDCs associated with increased breast cancer risk.
- To elucidate the role of specific genes in EDC-induced breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Data integration and gene network analysis were employed.
- Four EDCs correlated with breast cancer were selected from PCPs.
- GeneMANIA was used to identify common and predicted interacting genes (47 total).
Main Results:
- Key genes (ESR1, TP53, NCOA1, AKT1, BCL6) involved in EDC-breast cancer mechanisms were identified.
- A network of 47 genes was functionally grouped using gene ontology and KEGG pathways.
- Candidate EDCs potentially increasing breast cancer risk were screened.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a novel approach to understand EDC mechanisms in breast cancer.
- Identified genes offer insights into the molecular pathways affected by EDCs.
- The findings help in identifying potential EDCs linked to breast cancer risk.
