title: Environmental endocrine disruptors: Effects on the human male reproductive system.
abstract: Incidences of altered development and neoplasia of male reproductive organs have increased during the last 50 years, as shown by epidemiological data. These data are associated with the increased presence of environmental chemicals, specifically "endocrine disruptors," that interfere with normal hormonal action. Much research has gone into testing the effects of specific endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the development of male reproductive organs and endocrine-related cancers in both in vitro and in vivo models. Efforts have been made to bridge the accruing laboratory findings with the epidemiological data to draw conclusions regarding the relationship between EDCs, altered development and carcinogenesis. The ability of EDCs to predispose target fetal and adult tissues to neoplastic transformation is best explained under the framework of the tissue organization field theory of carcinogenesis (TOFT), which posits that carcinogenesis is development gone awry. Here, we focus on the available evidence, from both empirical and epidemiological studies, regarding the effects of EDCs on male reproductive development and carcinogenesis of endocrine target tissues. We also critique current research methodology utilized in the investigation of EDCs effects and outline what could possibly be done to address these obstacles moving forward.
authors: Program in Genetics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Sweeney
authors: Program in Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Hasan
authors: Program in Genetics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.|Program in Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.|Department of Integrative Physiology & Pathobiology, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Soto
authors: Program in Genetics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. carlos.sonnenschein@tufts.edu.|Program in Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. carlos.sonnenschein@tufts.edu.|Department of Integrative Physiology & Pathobiology, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. carlos.sonnenschein@tufts.edu.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Sonnenschein
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Developmental origins of adult disease; Endocrine disruption; Male breast cancer; Male reproduction; Prostate cancer; Testicular cancer; Tissue organization field theory