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Cited by 79Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animalsHeavy Metal Exposure and ToxicityEffects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals

Aluminium and the human breast

Darbre, P.D.·2016·Morphologie
DOI 10.1016/j.morpho.2016.02.001
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Abstract

The human population is exposed to aluminium (Al) from diet, antacids and vaccine adjuvants, but frequent application of Al-based salts to the underarm as antiperspirant adds a high additional exposure directly to the local area of the human breast. Coincidentally the upper outer quadrant of the breast is where there is also a disproportionately high incidence of breast cysts and breast cancer. Al has been measured in human breast tissues/fluids at higher levels than in blood, and experimental evidence suggests that at physiologically relevant concentrations, Al can adversely impact on human breast epithelial cell biology. Gross cystic breast disease is the most common benign disorder of the breast and evidence is presented that Al may be a causative factor in formation of breast cysts. Evidence is also reviewed that Al can enable the development of multiple hallmarks associated with cancer in breast cells, in particular that it can cause genomic instability and inappropriate proliferation in human breast epithelial cells, and can increase migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells. In addition, Al is a metalloestrogen and oestrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer known to influence multiple hallmarks. The microenvironment is established as another determinant of breast cancer development and Al has been shown to cause adverse alterations to the breast microenvironment. If current usage patterns of Al-based antiperspirant salts contribute to causation of breast cysts and breast cancer, then reduction in exposure would offer a strategy for prevention, and regulatory review is now justified.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.morpho.2016.02.001

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  • Emerging evidence suggests Al may be involved in the causation of breast cancers and cysts.

    “Breast cancers and cysts are mammary gland conditions where emerging evidence are suggesting that Al may be involved in their causation (Darbre, 2016).”

    From Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects (2019) · cites this paper as Darbre, 2016

  • Al may increase the risk of breast cancer by acting as a metalloestogen.

    “Thus, Al may increase the risk of breast cancer by acting as a metalloestogen (Darbre, 2016).”

    From Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects (2019) · cites this paper as Darbre, 2016

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Authors
Darbre, P. D.
Affiliations
University of Reading (GB)
Corresponding author
Darbre, P.D.
ORCID
Darbre, P.D.
Venue
Morphologie
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-06
Volume
100
Issue
329
Pages
65-74
ISSN
  • 0376-6160 (ISSN-L)
  • 1286-0115
DOI
10.1016/j.morpho.2016.02.001
OpenAlex
W2297664433
Cited by
78
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1
FWCI
0.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Morphologie (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Keywords
aluminum exposure, breast cancer, breast cysts, antiperspirants, breast epithelial cells, genomic instability, cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, metalloestrogens, breast microenvironment, fibrocystic breast disease, cancer hallmarks, breast cancer prevention
MeSH terms
Aluminum, Axilla, Biological Availability, Breast, Breast Neoplasms, Epithelial Cells, Estrogens, Female, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Humans, Risk Factors, Skin Absorption, Aluminum Compounds, Genomic Instability, Breast Cyst, Antiperspirants, Tumor Microenvironment

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