Stacy Loeb, MD, on emerging environmental data in prostate cancer

In an interview at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, California, Stacy Loeb, MD, MSc, discussed emerging data on microplastics and prostate cancer. In a study presented at the meeting, Loeb and her team found higher concentrations of microplastics in prostate tumor tissue than in benign tissue (mean concentration, 39.8 µg/g vs 15.5 µg/g).¹ While preliminary, Loeb notes that these findings may encourage practical steps to reduce plastic exposure.

Loeb is a urologist at New York University (NYU) Langone Health and a professor of urology and population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, New York.

Loeb emphasized that urologists are only beginning to understand the potential contribution of environmental exposures to prostate cancer risk. Prior research has explored links between exposures such as herbicides, and the role of microplastics is an emerging area of investigation.

While she cautioned that the data from her study are not sufficient to establish causality, she emphasized that the presence of microplastics within prostate tumor tissue is nonetheless concerning. Although it remains unclear whether microplastics directly contribute to tumor development, their widespread presence in human tissue underscores the need for further investigation into how environmental contaminants may influence cancer biology and progression.

In the interim, Loeb suggested that it is reasonable for clinicians to encourage practical, low-risk strategies to reduce plastic exposure. These include avoiding heating or storing food in plastic containers, minimizing the use of single-use plastics, and reducing reliance on plastic-based household products. Such measures, she noted, are not only environmentally responsible but may also represent a proactive approach to mitigating potential long-term health risks as the field continues to evolve.

REFERENCE

1. Loeb S. Microplastics and prostate cancer. Presented at: 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium; February 26-28, 2026; San Francisco, CA. Abstract 379. https://www.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/256266