p-Hydroxybenzoate esters metabolism in MCF7 breast cancer cells

► Metabolism of parabens in MCF7 cells. ► Cytotoxicity of parabens increased with the alkyl chain. ► Parabens are stable in cultured MCF7 cells. ► Parabens did not undergo hydrolysis, conjugation to glucuronic acid or sulfate in MCF7 homogenates. ► Results may explain the accumulation of parabens in breast cancer tissue.