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Integrative assessment of endocrine disruption: From in vitro mechanisms to species extrapolation – Highlights of the German Pharma-Tox Summit 2025

Haßmann U, Gölz L, Geci R, Stefanidis K, Brandt JL, North E, Feiertag K, Schopfer CR, Amann S, Melching-Kollmuss S, Landsiedel R (2026)

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Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Book Volume: 520

Article Number: 154370

DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154370

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a growing focus in human and environmental risk assessment, as reflected by the new EU CLP hazard classes for endocrine disruptors. Within this context, the symposium “Cross-Species Extrapolation in Endocrine Disruption Assessments” was held at the 10th German Pharm-Tox Summit (GPTS) 2025 in Hannover (March 11–13), which formed part of the 91st annual meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT). The symposium assembled diverse lines of research addressing endocrine disruption from complementary angles. Contributions ranged from advanced experimental model systems, such as refined zebrafish embryo assays for thyroid hormone disruption, to high-throughput in silico and in vitro–based kinetic modelling frameworks that support quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation and AOP-informed risk assessment. Clinical and translational perspectives were added by targeted LC–MS/MS profiling of steroid conjugates as biomarkers for adrenal tumours. Further talks expanded the mechanistic toolbox for thyroid disruption, including enzyme- and protein-binding–based in vitro assays, and highlighted metabolic endocrine disruptors that act beyond the EATS (estrogen, androgen, thyroid and steroidogenesis) pathways. A regulatory-oriented analysis of thyroid-related modes of action across vertebrate taxa underscored the importance of clearly defining domains of applicability for cross-species extrapolation. At the same time, the discussions revealed critical gaps, including still limited taxonomic applicability domains, incomplete regulatory coverage beyond established endocrine pathways and limited transparency in predictive tools. Together, these contributions illustrate how integrated experimental, computational and regulatory science can advance mechanism-based, animal-reduced assessment of endocrine disruptors.

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How to cite

APA:

Haßmann, U., Gölz, L., Geci, R., Stefanidis, K., Brandt, J.L., North, E.,... Landsiedel, R. (2026). Integrative assessment of endocrine disruption: From in vitro mechanisms to species extrapolation – Highlights of the German Pharma-Tox Summit 2025. Toxicology, 520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2025.154370

MLA:

Haßmann, Ute, et al. "Integrative assessment of endocrine disruption: From in vitro mechanisms to species extrapolation – Highlights of the German Pharma-Tox Summit 2025." Toxicology 520 (2026).

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