ASCO GU: Microplastics Found in Prostate Cancer Tumors

Follow Drugslib on

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 3, 2026.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, March 3, 2026 -- Microplastics have been found in most prostate tumors, according to a small study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, held from Feb. 26 to 28 in San Francisco.

Stacy Loeb, M.D., from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues analyzed samples collected from 10 patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Sample collection and analysis used plastic-minimization protocols to reduce the risk for plastic contamination.

The researchers found that plastic particles were identified in 90 percent of tumor samples and 70 percent of benign tissue samples. The tumor tissue contained on average 2.5 times the amount of plastic as the healthy prostate tissue samples (about 40 µg of plastic per gram of tissue versus 16 µg/g).

"By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public’s exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment," senior author Vittorio Albergamo, Ph.D., also from NYU Grossman, said in a statement.

Three authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Press Release

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-03-04 01:42

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords