Table 5.
Key studies and data illustrating the correlation between mycotoxin exposure and cancer risk for zearalenone and patulin.
| Mycotoxin | Findings | Cancer Type |
|---|---|---|
| Zearalenone | Reported increased estrogenic activity of zearalenone in human breast cancer cells, leading to cell proliferation [64]. | Breast Cancer |
| Found that dietary exposure to zearalenone in rats led to a significant increase in uterine weight and hyperplasia [65]. | Uterine Cancer | |
| Identified a link between zearalenone exposure and increased risk of reproductive cancers through hormonal disruption [66]. | Reproductive Cancers | |
| Showed that zearalenone exposure caused oxidative stress and DNA damage in liver cells, potentially increasing liver cancer risk [67]. | Liver Cancer | |
| Patulin | Documented the DNA-damaging effects of patulin in human liver cells, leading to mutagenic changes [68]. | Liver Cancer |
| Investigated the carcinogenic potential of patulin in mouse models, noting an increase in tumor incidence [69]. | Multiple Cancer Types | |
| Found that patulin exposure induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in colon cancer cells, highlighting its potential role in colorectal cancer [70]. | Colorectal Cancer | |
| Reported that dietary exposure to patulin in rats resulted in liver toxicity and increased cancer risk [71]. | Liver Cancer |