Figure 4.

Model of developmental estrogenic actions on prostate stem cell populations, resulting in an increased carcinogenic susceptibility. Developmental exposure to an estrogenic EDC (eg, BPA) can lead to increased numbers of reprogrammed stem cells, resulting in a modified gland with little overt phenotype. Exposures to secondary estrogens later in life, as occurs in the aging male, are sufficient to drive preneoplastic lesions in the epithelium, which progress to overt neoplasia and cancer over time. Targets of the secondary exposures can be preinitiated differentiated cells of the modified epithelium or reprogrammed stem and progenitor cells retained in the gland over a lifetime.