Bladder cancer, a review of the environmental risk factors

Abstract

BackgroundMany epidemiological studies and reviews have been performed to identify the causes of bladder cancer. The aim of this review is to investigate the links between various environmental risk factors and cancer of the bladder.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Scholar Google and Russian Google databases to identify reviews and epidemiological studies on bladder cancer risk factors associated with the environment published between 1998 and 2010. Only literature discussing human studies was considered.ResultsSmoking, mainly cigarette smoking, is a well known risk factor for various diseases, including bladder cancer. Another factor strongly associated with bladder cancer is exposure to arsenic in drinking water at concentrations higher than 300 µg/l. The most notable risk factor for development of bladder cancer is occupational exposure to aromatic amines (2-naphthylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl and benzidine) and 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline), which can be found in the products of the chemical, dye and rubber industries as well as in hair dyes, paints, fungicides, cigarette smoke, plastics, metals and motor vehicle exhaust. There are also data suggesting an effect from of other types of smoking besides cigarettes (cigar, pipe, Egyptian waterpipe, smokeless tobacco and environmental tobacco smoking), and other sources of arsenic exposure such as air, food, occupational hazards, and tobacco. Other studies show that hairdressers and barbers with occupational exposure to hair dyes experience enhanced risk of bladder cancer. For example, a study related to personal use of hair dyes demonstrates an elevated bladder cancer risk for people who used permanent hair dyes at least once a month, for one year or longer.ConclusionSmoking, in particular from cigarettes, exposure to arsenic in drinking water, and occupational exposure to aromatic amines and 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) are well known risk factors for various diseases including bladder cancer. Although the number of chemicals related to occupational exposure is still growing, it is worth noting that it may take several years or decades between exposure and the subsequent cancer.

Antitumor Activity of a Duocarmycin Analogue Rationalized to Be Metabolically Activated by Cytochrome P450 1A1 in Human Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

“…The contribution of CYP1 family (CYP-1A1, 1A2, and 1B1) mediated oxidation of xenobiotics including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines to mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolites is well established (4). This is pertinent to bladder cancer in which there is a strong epidemiologic association between development of this neoplasia and exposure to aromatic amines either from cigarette smoke or occupational exposure (5). This is supported by a study of human exfoliated urothelial cells, which has shown that CYP1A1 protein was expressed in a significantly greater proportion of cells from tobacco smokers than nonsmokers (6).…”

Incidence and clinical characteristics of lower urinary tract symptoms as a presenting symptom for patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer

“…In this study, we sought to examine the incidence of LUTS without hematuria as an initial presenting symptom for bladder cancer in a high risk population, namely an elderly (2), veteran (8), male (2) cohort with significant tobacco (9) and chemical/environmental (10) exposures. Further, we sought to compare the clinical and pathologic data between patients who presented with LUTS compared to those who presented with gross or microscopic hematuria.…”

Bladder cancer prevention

“…naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene), coal tar, aniline pigments (e.g. methoxyaniline, methoxy-nitroaniline), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofuran, and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons [7,17,18]. A major role is also played by metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel [18].…”

“…2-naphthylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl, 4-nitrobiphenyl, benzidine, aniline pigments, soot), and factors related to diet and lifestyle (fluid intake, calorie intake, fat content in diet). A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and polyphenols found in green tea, as well as vitamins and minerals is generally considered as a positive lifestyle factor [6,7].…”