A comprehensive analysis-based study of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-Environmental explanation of bladder cancer progression

Abstract

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely utilized as a plasticizer in industrial manufacturing to enhance the durability and flexibility of plastics. Studies have depicted that DEHP exposure may be associated with multiple cancers, including colorectal, liver and prostate cancer. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of DEHP on bladder cancer progression remain unspecific. In this work, we explored the correlation between DEHP exposure and bladder cancer through comprehensive analysis. A total of 172 differentially expressed DEHP-related genes (DEDRGs) were screened based on the CTD and TCGA database. In addition, a new prognostic model related to DEHP was developed, which had excellent predictive power for bladder cancer prognoses. Molecular docking techniques were employed to assess the binding affinity of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) to crucial proteins. Lastly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments, along with RNA sequencing, were conducted to elucidate the biological roles and mechanisms of MEHP in bladder cancer. Several new insights into the role of DEHP/MEHP in bladder cancer were given in this study, as well as an awareness of the association between environmental toxicants and cancer progression.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Molecular docking; Prognosis model.