E-Morph Assay detects hormone-like effects
2021
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are hormone-like chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system and are associated with adverse health effects, such as the increased risk of breast cancer in the case of estrogen-like substances. Using AI-automated image-based screening, the E-Morph Assay can identify EDs with estrogen-like effects by applying a substance to human breast cancer cells and observing which substances loosen the connection between cells in the mammary gland, making it easier for breast cancer cells to spread. This test can be fully automated, allowing many substances to be tested in a short period of time.
The E-Morph Assay also shows potential in the development and testing of pharmaceuticals and may be beneficial for regulatory toxicology and biomedical research.
The E-Morph Assay: Identification and characterization of environmental chemicals with estrogenic activity based on quantitative changes in cell-cell contact organization of breast cancer cells
Michael Oelgeschläger
Marja Kornhuber et al. Environment International 2021 [1]
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [2]
Added on: 03-23-2021
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021000350?via%3Dihub[2] https://www.pcrm.org/news/ethical-science/new-test-method-detects-hormone-effects?emci=298e67e9-d088-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=59daa3fd-688a-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=2015591
