Epidemiological and experimental aspects of metal carcinogenesis: physicochemical properties, kinetics, and the active species.

Abstract

The carcinogenic properties ofselected metals and their compounds are reviewed to provide a useful reference for existing knowedge on relationships between physical and chemical forms, kinetics and carcnogenic potental and between epqiemiology, bioassays, and short-term testL Exteive consideation is given to arsenic, berl, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel. Other metas such as antimony, cobalt, copper, iron, man selnium, and zinc are discussed briefly.

Mutational spectrum of p53 gene in arsenic-related skin cancers from the blackfoot disease endemic area of Taiwan

“…Several statistical analyses showed that the residents who live in the blackfoot disease endemic area have a higher arsenic species content in urine and a higher occurrence of skin, bladder and lung cancers than those who live in other areas of Taiwan (Tseng et al, 1968;Chiang et al, 1993;Hsueh et al, 1998). Arsenic is known to influence cell division (Debec et al, 1990), and increases chromosomal breaks, sister chromatid exchange and morphological transformation in mammalian cells (Magos et al, 1991). Numerous studies on cultured cell and animal models have shown that arsenic may generate reactive oxygen species to exert its toxicity (Lee-Chen et al, 1993;Cavigelli et al, 1996;Lynn et al, 1998), enhance gene amplification and inhibit DNA repair process .…”

Alterations in manganese, copper, and zinc contents, and intracellular status of the metal-containing superoxide dismutase in human mesothelioma cells

“…That study prompted us to investigate the role of trace elements and its binding proteins in mesothelioma pathogenesis. In fact, it has been suggested that some trace metals and their interactions with various biomolecules are related to the carcinogenic process [3]. In some tumors, including those in lung, kidney and liver, altered intracellular amounts of metals have been reported [4][5][6].…”

The Possible Role of Cytokeratin 8 in Cadmium-Induced Adaptation and Carcinogenesis

“…Although it has been well documented that cadmium exposure can cause a wide variety of adverse health effects and cancer development, the mechanism of its action has not been well established (1)(2)(3)(4). It has been suggested that cadmium exerts genotoxic or carcinogenic effects through an alteration in expression of immediate early genes (c-jun, c-fos, and c-myc) or the tumor suppressor gene p53 (5)(6)(7)(8).…”