How early-life BPA exposure may cause liver cancer
Understanding mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis following developmental BPA exposure
This research is learning how exposure to the common chemical BPA during development might lead to liver cancer later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers expose mice to doses of bisphenol A (BPA) during development and follow them into adulthood to see if liver tumors develop. The team measures DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and changes in gene activity related to basal transcription factors to pinpoint how BPA may trigger cancer initiation and promotion. Results are compared to known human risk factors like hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and aflatoxin to understand relevance for people. The aim is to identify biological signs or pathways that could guide prevention or early-detection strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults concerned about past or early-life BPA exposure or those with liver cancer risk factors (hepatitis infection, heavy alcohol use, aflatoxin exposure, or fatty liver disease) might follow this research or participate in future sample-collection or prevention studies.
Not a fit: People with advanced liver cancer seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical, mechanism-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent liver cancer by reducing harmful exposures, finding early warning markers, or identifying targets for prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and cell studies have linked BPA to increased ROS and cancer-related changes, but demonstrating BPA as a direct cause of liver cancer and defining precise mechanisms is more recent and still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinhouse, Caren — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Weinhouse, Caren
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.