environmental estrogen research

[Guest guest]

Hey folks,

I'm applying to a molecular and cellular biology grad program and I'm

browsing through the faculty list for research topics and came across this. I

thought it might interest some of you.

Chris

Kathleen F. Arcaro

Assistant Professor of Environmental Toxology, University of Massachusetts

Email:  karcaro@...

Ph.D.: Rutgers University

Postdoctoral Training: University at Albany & Wadsworth Laboratories, New

York State Department of Health

Estrogenic and Antiestrogenic Pollutants in the Environment: Activity and

Modes of Action of Complex Mixtures

The increasing numbers of reproductive disorders detected in wildlife and

humans have led to the hypothesis that environmental contaminants may be

disrupting normal reproductive endocrine function. For example, in the US the

incidence of breast cancer has increased by 1% each year over the last several

decades. Known risk factors, such as reproductive history, lifestyle, and

genetic

background, account for only 40-50% of these breast cancer cases, suggesting

that

exposure to environmental pollutants may be playing a causative role in the

development of breast cancer. We anticipate that understanding the mechanisms

by which environmental factors contribute to the etiology of breast cancer and

reproductive disorders will lead to new opportunities for prevention.

One aspect of the research performed in my laboratory focuses on

understanding how compounds in the environment mimic or antagonize the activity

of

steroidal hormones. For these studies we use an in vitro model of breast cancer

development, in which the presence of estrogens cause human breast cells to

develop

into multi-layered nodules or “fociâ€. Using this assay we are able to

investigate whether environmental pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls,

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides bind the estrogen or aryl

hydrocarbon receptor resulting in estrogenic or antiestrogenic responses, or

alter

the metabolism of 17b-estradiol. Our recent studies have focused on determining

the activity of complex environmental mixtures and structure function

analyses.

Representative publications:

Carpenter,D.O., Arcaro, K.F., Spink, D.C. (2002), Understanding the human

health effects of chemical mixtures. Environmental Health Perspectives 110(Suppl

1):25-42

Arcaro, K.F., Gierthy, J.F. and Mackerer, C.R. (2001) Antiestrogenicity of

clarified slurry oil and two crude oils in a human breast-cancer cell assay.

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A 62:101-107.

Arcaro, K.F. and Gierthy, J.F. (2001) Assessing the modulation of estrogenic

activity of environmental and pharmaceutical compounds using the MCF-7 focus

assay. In: Steroid Receptor Methods and Protocols (Ed. B. Lieberman) Humana

Press, Totowa, NJ.

Fasco, M.J., Keyomarsi, K., Arcaro. K.F. and Gierthy, J.F. (2000) Expression

of an estrogen receptor variant protein in breast tumor cell lines and tumors.

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 162(1-2): 167-180.

Arcaro, K.F., Yang, Y., Vakharia, D.D. and Gierthy, J.F. (2000) Toxaphene is

antiestrogenic in the MCF-7 focus assay. Journal of Toxicology & Environmental

Health, Part A 59: 101-114.

Arcaro, K.F., Yang, Y. and Gierthy, J.F. (1999) Benzo[k]fluoranthene

enhancement and suppression of 17ß-estradiol catabolism in MCF-7 breast cancer

cells.

Journal of Toxicology & Environmental Health, Part A 58:101-114.

Arcaro, K.F., O'Keefe, P.W., Yang, Y. and Gierthy, J.F. (1999)

Antiestrogenicity of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human

breast cancer

cells. Toxicology 133:115-127.

Arcaro, K.F., Yi, L., Seegal, R.F., Vakharia, D.D., Yang, Y., Spink, D.C.,

Brosch, K. and Gierthy, J.F. (1999) 2,2',6,6'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl is estrogenic

in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 72:94-102.

Arcaro, K.F., Vakharia, D.D., Yang, Y. and Gierthy, J.F. (1998) Lack of

synergy by mixtures of weakly estrogenic hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls

and

pesticides. Environmental Health Perspectives 106(S 4):1041-1046.

Carpenter, D.O., Arcaro, K.F., Bush, B., Niemi, W.D., Pang, S. and Vakharia,

D.D. (1998) Human health and chemical mixtures. Environmental Health

Perspectives 106(Suppl 6):1263-1270.