Role of microplastics in the tumor microenvironment (Review)

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in several ecosystems and have the potential to infiltrate multiple aspects of human life through ingestion, inhalation and dermal exposure, thus eliciting substantial concerns regarding their potential implications for human health. Whilst initial research has documented the effects of MPs on disease development across multiple physiological systems, MPs may also facilitate tumor progression by influencing the tumor microenvironment (TME). This evolving focus underscores the growing interest in the role of MPs in tumorigenesis and their interactions within the TME. In the present review, the relationship between MPs and the TME is comprehensively assessed, providing a detailed analysis of their interactions with tumor cells, stromal cells (including macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells), the extracellular matrix and inflammatory processes. Recommendations for future research directions and strategies to address and reduce microplastic pollution are proposed.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Oncology Letters

• Publication date

  2025-02-21

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3892/ol.2025.14939PMID 40041410PMCID 11877014
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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