Microplastics as both a driver of genitourinary cancers and a deliverer of treatments
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are environmental contaminants increasingly detected in human tissues, raising public health concerns. Although evidence is still insufficient to directly link MNPs to genitourinary cancers (GU), this Review examines their potential role in prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma. Proposed mechanisms include chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption driven by plastic-associated additives. Emerging studies report quantitative detection of MNPs within human prostate and bladder tumors, with higher burdens associated with dietary habits such as frequent take-out food consumption. The Review also highlights their role in cancer therapy: MNPs may alter antineoplastic drug pharmacokinetics and promote resistance, yet polymer-based nanoparticles can be engineered as advanced drug delivery platforms. Materials such as PLGA and PEG may improve targeted delivery of chemotherapies and immunotherapies, supporting more effective and personalized treatment strategies in GU oncology.
Authors
- Elisabetta Giorgini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0503-5870)
- Farah Rehan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0929-2225)
- Francesca Maradonna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6677-1017)
- Francesco Piva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1850-2482)
- Brigida Anna Maiorano
- Javier Molina-Cerrillo
- Francesco Massari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6476-6871)
- Matteo Santoni
- Kannan Sridharan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3811-6503)
- Sebastiano Buti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0876-0226)
- Tarek Taha
Institutions
- Marche Polytechnic University (IT)
- University of Parma (IT)
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (IT)
- Azienda USL di Bologna (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (ES)
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele (IT)
- Ospedale di Macerata
- Arabian Gulf University (BH)
- University of Macerata (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Medicine
- Published
- 2026-05-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-026-01675-7
- Primary Topic
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00