Dose-dependent incidence of hepatic tumors in adult mice following perinatal exposure to bisphenol A.
BACKGROUND
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical with hormone-like properties that has been implicated as a potential carcinogen. Early-life exposure has been linked to increased risk for precancerous lesions in mammary and prostate glands and the uterus, but no prior study has shown a significant association between BPA exposure and cancer development.


OBJECTIVE
We explored the effects of BPA exposure during gestation and lactation on adult incidence of hepatic tumors in mice.


METHODS
Isogenic mice were perinatally exposed to BPA through maternal diets containing one of four environmentally relevant doses of BPA (0, 50 ng, 50 μg, or 50 mg per kilogram of diet), and we followed approximately one male and one female per litter until they were 10 months of age. Animals were tested for known risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma, including bacterial and viral infections.


RESULTS
We found dose-dependent incidence of hepatic tumors in 10-month-old BPA-exposed mice. Of the offspring examined, 23% presented with hepatic tumors or preneoplastic lesions. We observed a statistically significant dose-response relationship, with an odds ratio for neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of 7.23 (95% CI: 3.23, 16.17) for mice exposed to 50 mg BPA/kg diet compared with unexposed controls. Observed early disease onset, absence of bacterial or viral infection, and lack of characteristic sexual dimorphism in tumor incidence support a nonclassical etiology.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first report of a statistically significant association between BPA exposure and frank tumors in any organ. Our results link early-life exposure to BPA with the development of hepatic tumors in rodents, and have potential implications for human health and disease.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and.
Caren
C
Weinhouse
Olivia S
OS
Anderson
Ingrid L
IL
Bergin
David J
DJ
Vandenbergh
Joseph P
JP
Gyekis
Marc A
MA
Dingman
Jingyun
J
Yang
Dana C
DC
Dolinoy
D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds