The Role of Lead and Cadmium in Gynecological Malignancies

Overview

Journal Antioxidants (Basel)

Date 2022 Dec 23

PMID 36552675

Authors

Gabriela Furtak

Mateusz Kozlowski

Sebastian Kwiatkowski

Aneta Cymbaluk-Ploska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Lead and cadmium are non-essential and toxic heavy metals. Their presence and elevated levels can lead to many pathologies. They disrupt the antioxidant properties of many enzymes, consume the resources of antioxidant cells, and thus participate in the generation of oxidative stress, which may result in DNA damage. In addition, they have been found to be carcinogenic through their genotoxic properties. They have been shown to be present in various types of cancer, including cancer of the female reproductive system. Both metals have been recognized as metalloestrogens, which are important in hormone-related cancers. Participation in the oncogenesis of ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer was analysed in detail, using the available research in this field. We emphasize their role as potential biomarkers in cancer risk and diagnosis as well as advancement of gynaecological malignancies.

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