Microplastics in Prostate Cancer Tumors
Stacy Loeb, MD, MSc, PhD, (Hon), is a Professor of Urology and Population Health at NYU Langone Health and the Manhattan Veterans Affairs Hospital. She is double Board-certified in Urology and in Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. Stacy Loeb is an internationally recognized expert in prostate cancer, with more than 500 peer-reviewed publications. Prompted by a 2024 New England Journal of Medicine paper finding microplastics in carotid artery plaques, which were linked to increased stroke or clinical events, she became curious about whether microplastics could also be present in prostate cancer tumors.
Dr. Loeb submitted a grant to investigate whether microplastics are present in the prostates of patients with prostate cancer. The United States
Department of Defense (DOD) funded her to perform a 30-case study. Due to the high risk of plastic contamination in clinical settings and laboratories, Dr. Loeb established strict protocols for collecting tissue samples to reduce contamination. In this study, both tumor and benign tissue from the opposite side of the prostate are collected for comparison. Tumors of different grades are included.
So far, microplastics have been found in samples from 9 of 10 patients, with their presence being twice as high in tumor tissue compared to benign tissue. Looking ahead, the team will examine whether higher-grade tumors contain more microplastics and whether higher microplastic levels correlate with inflammation in the tissue as a possible mechanism.
Reflecting on this work, Dr. Loeb feels fortunate to have secured DOD funding, especially given that much of the federal funding for prostate cancer research has recently been eliminated cut. She hopes that, going forward, funding will be restored and that philanthropic donors will take an interest in supporting meritorious prostate cancer research.
Though it is too soon to draw conclusions whether microplastics are associated with prostate cancer from these early findings, Dr. Loeb suggests considering reducing unnecessary plastic use for other health and environmental impacts.
