Mechanism of phthalate esters in the progression and development of breast cancer

Phthalate esters are produced widely for their use as plasticizer in consumer products such as cosmetics, PVC, deodorants etc. Their use is considered harmless but they are known to induce cancer and work as endocrine disruptors. In this review, we try to emphasize the ubiquitous presence of phthalate esters and the pathways they affect to induce, metastasizes cancer or to prompt drug resistance in cancer cells. We reviewed the literature from the last one decade on PubMed. The keywords used were 'Phthalates' 'Breast cancer' 'endocrine disruptors' 'environmental carcinogens' 'Phthalates and reproductive health' etc. In conclusion, the phthalates are able to mimic estrogen, to prompt proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance in breast cancer cells. The data for its dosage exposure to induce ill-effects remains largely inconsistent. The only well researched molecular target of phthalate is Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) which is a ligand activated transcription factor. Being an interesting and important problem of research this aspect had not been touched in the way as it has to be.