Minerva Obstetrics and Gynecology 2021 Nov 26

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-606X.21.04989-7

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Talcum powder induces malignant transformation in normal human primary ovarian epithelial cells

Amy K. HARPER ^{1, 2}, Xin WANG ¹, Rong FAN ¹, Thea K. MANGU ¹, Nicole M. FLETCHER ¹, Robert T. MORRIS ², Ghassan M. SAED ^{1, 2} ✉

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA; ² Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA

BACKGROUND: Several studies have linked perineal use of talcum powder to increased risk of ovarian cancer (OC). Here, we determined that exposure to talcum powder induces malignant transformation in human normal ovarian cells.
METHODS: Human primary ovarian epithelial cells (HPOE), ovarian epithelial cells (HOSEpiC), and primary fibroblasts (NF) were treated with either 100 or 500 ug/ml of talcum powder or titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a particulate control for 72 hours before assessment with a cell transformation assay and p53 and Ki67 immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Treatment with talcum powder resulted in formation of colonies, indicating cell malignant transformation in a dose dependent manner in ovarian cell lines. No colonies formed in the untreated ovarian cells or control ovarian cells (TiO2 treated) at either dose. There were no colonies formed in talc treated NF cells. Transformed ovarian cells were increased by 11% and 20% in HPOE and 24% and 40% in HOSEpic cells for talcum powder 100 and 500 ug/ml doses, respectively (p<0.05). There were no detectible transformed cells when cells were treated with TiO2. Importantly, p53 mutant type as well as increased expression of Ki67 were detected in HPOE and HOSEpic cells when exposed to talcum powder.
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to talcum powder induces malignant transformation in ovarian epithelial cells but not in NF cells. These findings represent a direct effect of talcum powder exposure that is specific to normal ovarian cells and further supports previous studies demonstrating an association between the genital use of talcum powder and an increased risk of OC.

KEY WORDS: Ovarian cancer; Talcum powder; Epithelial cells