Microplastics Affect Cancer Treatment Response
Researchers found that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics in liver cancer tumors can interfere with the effectiveness of radiotherapy. The study suggests that these plastics alter cholesterol metabolism, which in turn affects the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells.
Why it matters
This discovery highlights a potential environmental factor that could complicate cancer treatment and suggests new metabolic pathways for improving therapy outcomes.
MICROPLASTICS were detected in 52 of 72 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples examined in a study investigating their potential impact on radiotherapy response.
HCC is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and radiotherapy is a standard-of-care treatment for patients with intermediate and advanced disease. However, treatment resistance remains common.
Researchers assessed whether different types of microplastics, which have been detected in various tumours and may affect immune responses, had a role in radiotherapy outcomes in HCC. Evidence on how microplastics affect radiotherapy had otherwise been previously limited.
The study found that multiple types of microplastics were present in HCC samples, but only polyvinyl chloride (PVC) affected the effectiveness of radiotherapy. The researchers reported that PVC altered cholesterol localisation within tumours and influenced CD8+ T cell differentiation.
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