Arsenic, Asbestos and Radon: Emerging Players in Lung Tumorigenesis

Overview

Journal Environ Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2012 Nov 24

PMID 23173984

Citations 37

Authors

Roland Hubaux

Daiana D Becker-Santos

Katey S S Enfield

Stephen Lam

Wan L Lam

Victor D Martinez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The cause of lung cancer is generally attributed to tobacco smoking. However lung cancer in never smokers accounts for 10 to 25% of all lung cancer cases. Arsenic, asbestos and radon are three prominent non-tobacco carcinogens strongly associated with lung cancer. Exposure to these agents can lead to genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor genomes, impacting genes and pathways involved in lung cancer development. Moreover, these agents not only exhibit unique mechanisms in causing genomic alterations, but also exert deleterious effects through common mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, commonly associated with carcinogenesis. This article provides a comprehensive review of arsenic, asbestos, and radon induced molecular mechanisms responsible for the generation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in lung cancer. A better understanding of the mode of action of these carcinogens will facilitate the prevention and management of lung cancer related to such environmental hazards.

Citing Articles

Lung Cancer-Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Treatment and Molecular Aspect (Review of Literature).

Smolarz B, Lukasiewicz H, Samulak D, Piekarska E, Kolacinski R, Romanowicz H Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(5).

PMID: 40076671 PMC: 11900952. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26052049.

TDO2 inhibition counters Benzo[a]pyrene-induced immune evasion and suppresses tumorigenesis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Tas I, Varli M, Pulat S, Sim H, Kim J, Kim H Cancer Metab. 2024; 12(1):36.

PMID: 39593177 PMC: 11590479. DOI: 10.1186/s40170-024-00365-z.

Association between second-hand smoke exposure and lung cancer risk in never-smokers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Possenti I, Romelli M, Carreras G, Biffi A, Bagnardi V, Specchia C Eur Respir Rev. 2024; 33(174).

PMID: 39537242 PMC: 11558540. DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0077-2024.

The Role of Inhaled Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy.

Silva A, Costa M, Zacaron T, Ferreira K, Braz W, Fabri R Pharmaceutics. 2024; 16(8).

PMID: 39204314 PMC: 11359377. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16080969.

Topography of mutational signatures in non-small cell lung cancer: emerging concepts, clinical applications, and limitations.

Jayakrishnan R, Kwiatkowski D, Rose M, Nassar A Oncologist. 2024; 29(10):833-841.

PMID: 38907669 PMC: 11449018. DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae091.

References

van Loon A, Kant I, Swaen G, Goldbohm R, Kremer A, van den Brandt P . Occupational exposure to carcinogens and risk of lung cancer: results from The Netherlands cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 1998; 54(11):817-24. PMC: 1128954. DOI: 10.1136/oem.54.11.817. View

Sanchez-Cespedes M, Ahrendt S, Piantadosi S, Rosell R, Monzo M, Wu L . Chromosomal alterations in lung adenocarcinoma from smokers and nonsmokers. Cancer Res. 2001; 61(4):1309-13. View

Turner M, Krewski D, Pope 3rd C, Chen Y, Gapstur S, Thun M . Long-term ambient fine particulate matter air pollution and lung cancer in a large cohort of never-smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 184(12):1374-81. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201106-1011OC. View

Jensen T, Wozniak R, Eblin K, Wnek S, Gandolfi A, Futscher B . Epigenetic mediated transcriptional activation of WNT5A participates in arsenical-associated malignant transformation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008; 235(1):39-46. PMC: 4438681. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2008.10.013. View

Jo W, Ren X, Chu F, Aleshin M, Wintz H, Burlingame A . Acetylated H4K16 by MYST1 protects UROtsa cells from arsenic toxicity and is decreased following chronic arsenic exposure. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2009; 241(3):294-302. PMC: 2784148. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2009.08.027. View

Shukla A, Barrett T, Nakayama K, Nakayama K, Mossman B, Lounsbury K . Transcriptional up-regulation of MMP12 and MMP13 by asbestos occurs via a PKCdelta-dependent pathway in murine lung. FASEB J. 2006; 20(7):997-9. DOI: 10.1096/fj.05-4554fje. View

Veloso B, Rocha Nogueira J, Cardoso M . Lung cancer and indoor radon exposure in the north of Portugal--an ecological study. Cancer Epidemiol. 2011; 36(1):e26-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2011.10.005. View

Nymark P, Wikman H, Ruosaari S, Hollmen J, Vanhala E, Karjalainen A . Identification of specific gene copy number changes in asbestos-related lung cancer. Cancer Res. 2006; 66(11):5737-43. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-0199. View

Rice J . The global reorganization and revitalization of the asbestos industry, 1970-2007. Int J Health Serv. 2011; 41(2):239-54. DOI: 10.2190/HS.41.2.d. View

10.

Lin R, Takahashi K, Karjalainen A, Hoshuyama T, Wilson D, Kameda T . Ecological association between asbestos-related diseases and historical asbestos consumption: an international analysis. Lancet. 2007; 369(9564):844-849. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60412-7. View

11.

Samet J, Kutvirt D, Waxweiler R, Key C . Uranium mining and lung cancer in Navajo men. N Engl J Med. 1984; 310(23):1481-4. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM198406073102301. View

12.

Harley N, Harley J . Potential lung cancer risk from indoor radon exposure. CA Cancer J Clin. 1990; 40(5):265-75. DOI: 10.3322/canjclin.40.5.265. View

13.

Barrett J, Lamb P, Wiseman R . Multiple mechanisms for the carcinogenic effects of asbestos and other mineral fibers. Environ Health Perspect. 1989; 81:81-9. PMC: 1567531. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.898181. View

14.

Xu A, Huang X, Lien Y, Bao L, Yu Z, Hei T . Genotoxic mechanisms of asbestos fibers: role of extranuclear targets. Chem Res Toxicol. 2007; 20(5):724-33. DOI: 10.1021/tx600364d. View

15.

Heck J, Andrew A, Onega T, Rigas J, Jackson B, Karagas M . Lung cancer in a U.S. population with low to moderate arsenic exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2010; 117(11):1718-23. PMC: 2801179. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0900566. View

16.

Wild C . Environmental exposure measurement in cancer epidemiology. Mutagenesis. 2008; 24(2):117-25. PMC: 2720689. DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gen061. View

17.

Husgafvel-Pursiainen K, Karjalainen A, Kannio A, Anttila S, Partanen T, Ojajarvi A . Lung cancer and past occupational exposure to asbestos. Role of p53 and K-ras mutations. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1999; 20(4):667-74. DOI: 10.1165/ajrcmb.20.4.3404. View

18.

Andrew A, Mason R, Memoli V, Duell E . Arsenic activates EGFR pathway signaling in the lung. Toxicol Sci. 2009; 109(2):350-7. PMC: 2683921. DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfp015. View

19.

Kettunen E, Aavikko M, Nymark P, Ruosaari S, Wikman H, Vanhala E . DNA copy number loss and allelic imbalance at 2p16 in lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Br J Cancer. 2009; 100(8):1336-42. PMC: 2676554. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605012. View

20.

McCormack V, Peto J, Byrnes G, Straif K, Boffetta P . Estimating the asbestos-related lung cancer burden from mesothelioma mortality. Br J Cancer. 2012; 106(3):575-84. PMC: 3273352. DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.563. View