Breast Adipose Tissue's Xenobiotics and Fatty Acid Profile-A Preliminary Study in Portuguese Women with Breast Cancer

Countless environmental pollutants and xenobiotics, are widespread and linked to hazardous effects, including breast cancer. Due to their lipophilic properties, these accumulate in fat tissue, such as breast adipose tissue. However, little is still known about their combined effects and distribution within the breast microenvironment. Alterations in fatty acid metabolism can be a biomarker for cancer progression and a potential bioindicator of pollutant exposure. In this study, the fatty acid profile and levels of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides (OCPs and OPPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musks (SMs) were measured in 48 breast adipose tissue samples from breast cancer and healthy patients (controls). Twelve xenobiotics were detected at high frequency rates, and the distribution profile of these pollutants differed between cohorts. In total, 163 correlations were identified between specific fatty acids and breast cancer patients' data, with distinct correlation patterns between cohorts. Fatty acids show the potential to be biomarkers of the presence of lipophilic xenobiotics in the breast microenvironment; however, more studies are needed. This preliminary study is the first to analyze OPPs, OPEs, and PAHs in breast adipose tissue and report associations between xenobiotics and specific fatty acids.