Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts
Xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens are referred to as “foreign estrogens” that are produced outside of the human body and have been shown to exert estrogen-like activity. Xenoestrogens are synthetic industrial chemicals, whereas phytoestrogens are chemicals present in the plant. Considering that these...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/16/8798 |
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| author | Xiaoqiang Wang Desiree Ha Ryohei Yoshitake Yin S. Chan David Sadava Shiuan Chen |
| author_facet | Xiaoqiang Wang Desiree Ha Ryohei Yoshitake Yin S. Chan David Sadava Shiuan Chen |
| author_sort | Xiaoqiang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens are referred to as “foreign estrogens” that are produced outside of the human body and have been shown to exert estrogen-like activity. Xenoestrogens are synthetic industrial chemicals, whereas phytoestrogens are chemicals present in the plant. Considering that these environmental estrogen mimics potentially promote hormone-related cancers, an understanding of how they interact with estrogenic pathways in human cells is crucial to resolve their possible impacts in cancer. Here, we conducted an extensive literature evaluation on the origins of these chemicals, emerging research techniques, updated molecular mechanisms, and ongoing clinical studies of estrogen mimics in human cancers. In this review, we describe new applications of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques in shaping the current knowledge. At the molecular and cellular levels, we provide comprehensive and up-to-date insights into the mechanism of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens in modulating the hallmarks of cancer. At the systemic level, we bring the emerging concept of window of susceptibility (WOS) into focus. WOS is the critical timing during the female lifespan that includes the prenatal, pubertal, pregnancy, and menopausal transition periods, during which the mammary glands are more sensitive to environmental exposures. Lastly, we reviewed 18 clinical trials on the application of phytoestrogens in the prevention or treatment of different cancers, conducted from 2002 to the present, and provide evidence-based perspectives on the clinical applications of phytoestrogens in cancers. Further research with carefully thought-through concepts and advanced methods on environmental estrogens will help to improve understanding for the identification of environmental influences, as well as provide novel mechanisms to guide the development of prevention and therapeutic approaches for human cancers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6b67fa048fe471b8d1e5b691d7466e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6b67fa048fe471b8d1e5b691d7466e62023-11-22T08:00:39ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-08-012216879810.3390/ijms22168798Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and ConceptsXiaoqiang Wang0Desiree Ha1Ryohei Yoshitake2Yin S. Chan3David Sadava4Shiuan Chen5Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USAXenoestrogens and phytoestrogens are referred to as “foreign estrogens” that are produced outside of the human body and have been shown to exert estrogen-like activity. Xenoestrogens are synthetic industrial chemicals, whereas phytoestrogens are chemicals present in the plant. Considering that these environmental estrogen mimics potentially promote hormone-related cancers, an understanding of how they interact with estrogenic pathways in human cells is crucial to resolve their possible impacts in cancer. Here, we conducted an extensive literature evaluation on the origins of these chemicals, emerging research techniques, updated molecular mechanisms, and ongoing clinical studies of estrogen mimics in human cancers. In this review, we describe new applications of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques in shaping the current knowledge. At the molecular and cellular levels, we provide comprehensive and up-to-date insights into the mechanism of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens in modulating the hallmarks of cancer. At the systemic level, we bring the emerging concept of window of susceptibility (WOS) into focus. WOS is the critical timing during the female lifespan that includes the prenatal, pubertal, pregnancy, and menopausal transition periods, during which the mammary glands are more sensitive to environmental exposures. Lastly, we reviewed 18 clinical trials on the application of phytoestrogens in the prevention or treatment of different cancers, conducted from 2002 to the present, and provide evidence-based perspectives on the clinical applications of phytoestrogens in cancers. Further research with carefully thought-through concepts and advanced methods on environmental estrogens will help to improve understanding for the identification of environmental influences, as well as provide novel mechanisms to guide the development of prevention and therapeutic approaches for human cancers.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/16/8798cancerendogenous estrogensestrogen receptorsexogenous estrogenspatient-derived xenograft/PDXphytoestrogens |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoqiang Wang Desiree Ha Ryohei Yoshitake Yin S. Chan David Sadava Shiuan Chen Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts International Journal of Molecular Sciences cancer endogenous estrogens estrogen receptors exogenous estrogens patient-derived xenograft/PDX phytoestrogens |
| title | Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts |
| title_full | Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts |
| title_short | Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts |
| title_sort | exploring the biological activity and mechanism of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens in cancers emerging methods and concepts |
| topic | cancer endogenous estrogens estrogen receptors exogenous estrogens patient-derived xenograft/PDX phytoestrogens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/16/8798 |
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