Postmortem tumor decomposition and environmental dissemination: A narrative review of theoretical ecotoxicological risks

Vollständiger Abstract

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ABSTRACT Patients with cancer harbor a significant oncogenic load, including circulating tumor DNA, extracellular vesicles, and microRNAs, which exhibit relative stability in biofluids. This review explores the theoretical ecotoxicological risks posed by the postmortem release of these tumor-derived biomolecules into the environment. Upon death, decomposition processes facilitate the release of this oncogenic material into soil and water, contributing to the formation of cadaver decomposition islands. We examine the environmental persistence of these molecules, drawing parallels to environmental DNA studies, which demonstrate that genetic material can persist for days to weeks under favorable conditions. The theoretical potential for passive transfection and lateral transfer of oncogenic DNA is considered through experimental models of cell-free DNA uptake by somatic cells and natural precedents of transmissible cancers. While the direct ecological risk is likely minimal because of rapid degradation and environmental barriers, this framework introduces the concept of “ecological oncology.” It highlights a potential, albeit speculative, feedback loop through which cancer-derived biomolecules may re-enter ecosystems, warranting interdisciplinary investigation into their ultimate environmental fate and theoretical ecological impact.