The Possible Role of Mycotoxins in the Pathogenesis of Endometrial Cancer

Márkó Unicsovics; Zsófia Molnár; Miklós Mézes; Katalin Posta; György Nagyéri; Szabolcs Várbíró; Nándor Ács; Levente Sára; Zsuzsanna Szőke

doi:10.3390/toxins16060236

Toxins (May 2024)

The Possible Role of Mycotoxins in the Pathogenesis of Endometrial Cancer

Márkó Unicsovics,
Zsófia Molnár,
Miklós Mézes,
Katalin Posta,
György Nagyéri,
Szabolcs Várbíró,
Nándor Ács,
Levente Sára,
Zsuzsanna Szőke

Affiliations

Márkó Unicsovics: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
Zsófia Molnár: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Miklós Mézes: Department of Feed Safety, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Katalin Posta: Department of Microbiology and Applied Biotechnology, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
György Nagyéri: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Szabolcs Várbíró: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
Nándor Ács: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
Levente Sára: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Szőke: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16060236
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 6
p. 236

Abstract

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Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. Many factors can contribute to the development of this disease, including environmental factors and, thus, eating habits. Our study aims to determine the levels of various mycotoxins and their metabolites in the blood serum and endometrial tissue samples of participants with previously proven endometrial cancer and to find possible contributions to cancer development. In the cohort clinical trial, 52 participants aged between 44 and 86 were studied. The participants were divided into two groups: patients or matched controls. All patients had previously histologically diagnosed endometrial cancer. The cancer patients were divided into low-grade endometrioid and low- plus high-grade endometrioid groups. Controls had no history of endometrial malignancy or premalignancy. Blood serum and endometrial tissue samples were obtained from all study patients. We compared the concentrations of total Aflatoxins (Afs), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin-A (OTA), T2-toxin and HT2 toxin (T2/HT2 toxin), Zearalenone (ZEN), alpha-Zearalenol (α-ZOL), and Fumonisin B1 (FB1) in the serum and endometrium between the different study groups. As a result, we can see a significant correlation between the higher levels of Afs and zearalenone and the presence of endometrial cancer. In the case of Afs, DON, OTA, T2/HT2 toxins, ZEN, and alpha-ZOL, we measured higher endometrial concentrations than in serum. Considering the effect of mycotoxins and eating habits on cancer development, our results might lead to further research exploring the relationship between certain mycotoxins and endometrium cancer.

Published in Toxins

ISSN: 2072-6651 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins/

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