Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. Many factors
can contribute to the development of this disease, including environmental factors
and, thus, eating habits. Our study aims to determine the levels of various mycotoxins
and their metabolites in the blood serum and endometrial tissue samples of participants
with previously proven endometrial cancer and to find possible contributions to cancer
development. In the cohort clinical trial, 52 participants aged between 44 and 86
were studied. The participants were divided into two groups: patients or matched controls.
All patients had previously histologically diagnosed endometrial cancer. The cancer
patients were divided into low-grade endometrioid and low- plus high-grade endometrioid
groups. Controls had no history of endometrial malignancy or premalignancy. Blood
serum and endometrial tissue samples were obtained from all study patients. We compared
the concentrations of total Aflatoxins (Afs), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin-A (OTA),
T2-toxin and HT2 toxin (T2/HT2 toxin), Zearalenone (ZEN), alpha-Zearalenol (α-ZOL),
and Fumonisin B1 (FB1) in the serum and endometrium between the different study groups.
As a result, we can see a significant correlation between the higher levels of Afs
and zearalenone and the presence of endometrial cancer. In the case of Afs, DON, OTA,
T2/HT2 toxins, ZEN, and alpha-ZOL, we measured higher endometrial concentrations than
in serum. Considering the effect of mycotoxins and eating habits on cancer development,
our results might lead to further research exploring the relationship between certain
mycotoxins and endometrium cancer.
