Microplastics in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Molecular Docking Studies

The alarming rise of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in individuals under 50 is concerning, particularly with respect to aggressive cases and lack of routine screening and investigation into novel risk factors. This in-silico study explores the potential link between microplastics (MPs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Chronic exposure to MPs may disrupt the colonic mucus layer, leading to increased permeability, oxidative stress and inflammation, which can contribute to carcinogenesis. Furthermore, MPs can alter gut microbiota composition, exacerbating inflammatory pathways. Using molecular docking techniques, we investigated the interactions between various MPs (styrene, polystyrene, phthalate, and PET) and critical proteins associated with CRC, such as KRAS, APC and EPCAM, DNA pol. Delta, DNA pol. Epsilon. Notably, polystyrene displayed significant binding affinity to KRAS, suggesting a potential role in cancer pathogenesis. Molecular docking techniques facilitate exploration of interactions between MPs and critical proteins associated with CRC, such as oncogenes (KRAS) and tumour suppressor genes (APC) and EPCAM is transmembrane protein leads to metastasis and DNA polymerases are leads to hypermutation. Results indicated that polystyrene displayed significant binding affinity to KRAS, highlighting its potential role in cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, binding affinities for other proteins were also assessed, with PET showing promising interactions. Our findings highlight the need for further biochemical studies on MPs' carcinogenic potential and the development of therapeutic strategies to mitigate their harmful effects. This research contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying EOCRC and provides new avenues for prevention and treatment.