ABSTRACT. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial contaminant and is reported to be a risk factor associated with the development of tumors. In our previous studies, we have shown that BPA promoted the growth of SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells and increased their invasion and metastasis. In this study, we further investigated the effects of BPA and 17b-estradiol (E 2 ) on the stem cell-like cells from SK-N-SH cells. Detection of stem cell markers, proliferation assay, and clonogenic analysis showed that the side-population (SP) of SK-N-SH cells had properties similar to those of stem cells. BPA or E 2 exposure decreased the percentage of SP cells and the expression of stem cell-marker proteins. BPA and E 2 promoted the growth of non-SP cells to a greater extent than of SP cells; in addition, they significantly increased the 2987 BPA promotes the growth of cancer stem cell-like SP cells ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 2986-2993 (2015 growth of SP cells. Thus, BPA has effects on stem cell-like cells, which induce tumor formation, and thus, BPA is an environmental factor that plays an important role in the development of neuroblastoma.