Kozak Joanna
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, ul. Konstantynów 1F, 20-708 Lublin, Poland.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 May 28;26(11):5155. doi: 10.3390/ijms26115155.
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have numerous applications in industries, agriculture, and other sectors, leading to their widespread distribution in the environment. The constant emission of heavy metals into the environment raises concerns about their impact and harmful effects on living organisms, including human health. Key threats arise from exposure to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, all of which are classified as carcinogens. Chronic exposure and bioaccumulation of these metals can result in toxic effects on various body systems, including the female reproductive system. Notably, heavy metals can induce oxidative stress, generate excessive reactive oxygen species, and impair antioxidant defense systems. These metals may also lead to DNA damage, enzyme inactivation, and epigenetic modifications, ultimately disrupting critical cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, repair, and apoptosis. Furthermore, some heavy metals can mimic endogenous estrogens, interact with estrogen receptors, and cause hormonal disruptions, a mechanism particularly relevant to the pathogenesis of female-related cancers. Despite significant advances, many gaps remain in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which heavy metals contribute to cancer development. Addressing these gaps could facilitate the development of more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of female cancers. This review highlights the potential effects of heavy metals on molecular pathways in female cancers, suggesting several mechanisms of cancer development.
重金属是天然存在的元素，在工业、农业和其他领域有众多应用，导致其在环境中广泛分布。重金属不断排放到环境中，引发了人们对其对包括人类健康在内的生物的影响和有害作用的担忧。主要威胁来自接触铅、镉、汞和砷等重金属，所有这些都被归类为致癌物。这些金属的慢性暴露和生物累积会对包括女性生殖系统在内的各种身体系统产生毒性作用。值得注意的是，重金属可诱导氧化应激，产生过多的活性氧，并损害抗氧化防御系统。这些金属还可能导致DNA损伤、酶失活和表观遗传修饰，最终破坏生长、增殖、分化、修复和凋亡等关键细胞过程。此外，一些重金属可以模拟内源性雌激素，与雌激素受体相互作用，并导致激素紊乱，这一机制与女性相关癌症的发病机制尤为相关。尽管取得了重大进展，但我们对重金属促进癌症发展的分子机制的理解仍存在许多空白。填补这些空白有助于开发更有效的女性癌症预防和治疗策略。本综述强调了重金属对女性癌症分子途径的潜在影响，提出了几种癌症发展机制。
