Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy, cilt.44, sa.2, ss.165-181, 2024 (Scopus)
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Breast cancer has been associated with many risk factors like hormo-nal, genetics and lifestyle. However, emerging evidence highlights the significant role of environmental pollutants as a risk factor in breast cancer development. Especially some environmental pollutants can change gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modification and micro-RNA changes. Epigenetic biomarkers from environmental pollutants may aid early diagnosis and prognosis in breast cancer. Nowadays, microRNAs are used as new biomarkers in breast cancer research. The ability to isolate from tissue, whole blood, serum and plasma and the ease of use as a biomarker has made miRNAs an important diagnostic tool. This review aims to shed light on the re-lationship between epigenetic biomarkers observed to change due to exposure to environmental pollutants and the risk of breast cancer. In this review the effects of environmental pollutants such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), phthalates, bis-phenol A, and arsenic on epigenetic mechanisms is focused. It is thought that environmental exposures will decrease and personalized preventive strategies can be developed with the increase in epigenetic researches in breast cancer cases.