BDE-209 exposure in murine melanoma (B16-F1) cells modulates tumor malignancy and progression in vivo.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer considered aggressive due to its high metastatic ability and rapid progression to other tissues and organs. BDE-209 (2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabromodiphenyl ether) is an additive used as a flame retardant and classified as a persistent organic pollutant that has a high bioaccumulation capacity due to its lipophilic nature. This substance has already been detected in rivers, air, soil, plants and even in different human biological samples, such as plasma, umbilical cord blood and breast milk, revealing a great concern to human populations.

BDE-209 and TCDD enhance metastatic characteristics of melanoma cells after chronic exposure.

TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and BDE-209 (decabromodiphenyl ether) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) produced by industrial activities and associated with several diseases. TCDD is a known human carcinogen, but few studies investigated about the effects of exposure to both compounds, i.e.