The Impact of Atmospheric Cadmium Exposure on Colon Cancer and the Invasiveness of Intestinal Stents

Sep 21, 2026

Inhalation exposure to carcinogenic cadmium (Cd) is a major health concern, yet the mechanism linking atmospheric Cd to colon cancer remains unclear. CT26 colon cancer cells were implanted into BALB/c mice, with subsets receiving intestinal stents, followed by exposure to aerosolized O2/N2 containing Cd. Cd intensified inflammation, increased NOX1 activity and ROS, altered Wnt protein secretion, activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and promoted proliferation and later-stage migration. Stents reduced SOD1 expression, shifted inflammation and reduced food intake.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

toxics Article The Impact of Atmospheric Cadmium Exposure on Colon Cancer and the Invasiveness of Intestinal Stents in the Cancerous Colon Shuai Zhang 1, Ruikang Li 2,*, Jing Xu 1,*, Yan Liu 2 and Yanjie Zhang 3 Citation: Zhang, S.; Li, R.; Xu, J.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, Y. The Impact of Atmospheric Cadmium Exposure on Colon Cancer and the Invasiveness of Intestinal Stents in the Cancerous Colon. Toxics 2024, 12, 215. [https://](https://)[ ](https://)[doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030215](doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030215) Academic Editors: Renjie Chen and William M. Gwinn Received: 30 December 2023 Revised: 11 March 2024 Accepted: 12 March 2024 Published: 14 March 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, No. 190 Jieyuan Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300121, China; [gelinbarlitony@126.com](gelinbarlitony@126.com) 2 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research & State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; [liuyanwork@nankai.edu.cn](liuyanwork@nankai.edu.cn) 3 Tianjin Youmei Environment Technology, Ltd., Tianjin 300300, China; [yiying5120@126.com](yiying5120@126.com) * [Correspondence: nklrkstudy@163.com](Correspondence: nklrkstudy@163.com) (R.L.); [xujingdoc@126.com](xujingdoc@126.com) (J.X.) Abstract: Background: Inhalation exposure to carcinogenic metals such as cadmium (Cd) is a significant global health concern linked to various cancers. However, the precise carcinogenic mechanism underlying inhalation exposure remains elusive. Methods: In this study, CT26 mouse colon cancer (CC) cells were implanted into BALB/c mice to establish CC mouse models. Some of the CC mice were implanted with intestinal stents. The mice were exposed to atomized oxygen and nitrogen (O 2/N2) gas containing Cd. Results: Atmospheric Cd intensified inflammation in CC cells and heightened Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) Oxidase 1 (NOX1) activity, which is an indirect measurement of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This escalated ROS production triggered abnormal Wnt protein secretion, activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and stimulated CC cell proliferation. No discernible body weight effect was seen in the CC mice, possibly due to the later-stage tumor weight gain, which masked the changes in body weight. Cd facilitated colon tumor restructuring and cell migration at the later stage. The implantation of intestinal stents inhibited the expression of Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) in the colon tumors of the CC mice, with no evident effects on the expression levels of NOX1, SOD2, and Catalase (CAT) enzymes. Elevated ROS levels, indirectly reflected by enzyme activity, did not substantially impact the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and even contributed to slowing its imbalance. Stent implantation eased the inflammation occurring in colon tumors by reducing CC cell proliferation but it induced discomfort in the mice, leading to a reduction in food intake and weight. Conclusions: Cd partially fosters CC tumorigenesis via the ROS-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The effect of Cd on the invasive effect of intestinal stents in the cancerous colon isnot significant. Keywords: cadmium; tumor; colon cancer; reactive oxygen species; Wnt/β-catenin pathway 1. Introduction In recent years, attention has increasingly turned towards the issue of air pollution, which is paralleled by a growing body of research into the impact of air p

FAQs

How was the colon cancer model established in the study?

CT26 mouse colon cancer cells were implanted into BALB/c mice to create colon cancer mouse models. Some mice also received intestinal stents.

What main biological pathway does atmospheric cadmium influence?

Atmospheric Cd increased NOX1 activity and ROS production, which led to abnormal Wnt protein secretion, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and stimulation of colon cancer cell proliferation.

Did intestinal stents meaningfully change the invasive effect in cancerous colon?

The study concludes that the effect of Cd on the invasive effect of intestinal stents in the cancerous colon is not significant.

Sep 21, 2026

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