IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans

Efficient fabrication of cellulose polymer networks via alkaline swelling strategy for wood bonding

Existing issues with bio-based adhesives, such as complex preparation processes, high energy consumption, and production costs, still need to be addressed. In our study, APTES was grafted onto microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to generate active aminated cellulose, and then reacted with the epoxide group in glycerol triglycidyl ether (GTE) through a swelling strategy under alkaline solvent, forming a network structure via covalent cross-linking. The adhesive exhibits superior bonding performance and water-resistant property in the bonding strength test of poplar plywood, with a dry shear strength of 2.40 MPa, a wet shear strength of 2.16 MPa after soaking in 63 °C hot water, and a wet shear strength of 1.79 MPa after soaking in boiling water. In terms of cost calculation, the theoretical production cost of AC-GTE adhesive is calculated to be 5303.7 RMB per ton, which is comparable to that of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin and other petrochemical-based adhesives, and significantly lower than that of isocyanate-based adhesives. These research results can provide a practical example for producing high-efficiency, aldehyde-free, and low-cost bio-based adhesives.

Impact of glyphosate-based herbicide exposure through maternal milk on offspring's antioxidant status, neurodevelopment, and behavior

Glyphosate-based Herbicide (GBH) is a widely used pesticide that functions as a broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide. Despite advanced research to describe the neurotoxic potential of GBH, the harmful effects on maternal behavior and neurodevelopment of offspring remain unclear. This study was conducted to highlight the effects of GBH on the antioxidant system, anxiety traits, social interaction, and cognitive and sensorimotor functions in pups exposed to 25 or 50 mg/l daily via their mother's milk. Concerning the biochemical biomarkers, GBH administered during the early stages of development negatively affected the status of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in the brain structures of the pups. Furthermore, our results showed a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) specific activity within the brains of treated pups. The results of the behavioral tests indicated that the treated offspring developed anxiety, memory, and sociability disorders, as evidenced by the Open Field, Y-maze, object recognition task, and social interaction tests. Through neurodevelopmental testing, we also showed sensorimotor impairment (righting reflex and negative geotaxis) and abnormal maternal behavior. Altogether, our study clearly demonstrates that the developing brain is sensitive to GBH.

Gastric and colorectal cancer incidence attributable to dietary factors in Korea

Background

Dietary factors play a role in the etiology of gastrointestinal cancer. We aimed to estimate the burden of gastric and colorectal cancer that can be attributable to dietary factors in adults aged 20 years and older in Korea in 2018.

Methods

Dietary intakes in 2000 were estimated using data from the 2001, 2005, and 2007-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). For counterfactual scenarios, the optimal level of intake suggested by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study was used if it was available. Otherwise, the average intake values of reference groups among published studies globally were used. Relative risks (RRs) were pooled through dose-response meta-analyses of Korean studies.

Results

In Korea in 2018, an estimated 18.6% of gastric cancer cases and 34.9% of colorectal cancer cases were attributed to the combined effect of evaluated dietary factors. High intake of salted vegetables accounted for 16.0% of gastric cancer cases, followed by salted fish at 2.4%. Low intakes of whole grains (16.6%) and milk (13.7%) were leading contributors to colorectal cancer cases, followed by high intakes of processed meat (3.1%) and red meat (5.9%), and a low intake of dietary fiber (0.5%).

Conclusions

These results suggest that a considerable proportion of gastric and colorectal cancer incidence might be preventable by healthy dietary habits in Korea. However, further research is needed to confirm the associations between dietary factors and gastric and colorectal cancers in Korea and to formulate and apply effective cancer prevention strategies to Koreans.

Environmental and occupational exposures and prognosis in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the Be-Well Study

Bladder cancer is primarily diagnosed as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with high recurrence and progression rates. Environmental and occupational exposures to carcinogens are well-known risk factors for developing bladder cancer, yet their effects on prognosis remain unknown. In the Be-Well Study, a population-based prospective cohort study of 1472 Kaiser Permanente patients newly diagnosed with NMIBC in California from 2015 to 2019, we examined history of environmental and occupational exposures in relation to tumor stage and grade at initial diagnosis by multivariable logistic regression, and subsequent recurrence and progression by Cox proportional hazards regression. Exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens was significantly associated with increased risk of progression (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.04-3.09), specifically with increased progression to muscle-invasive disease (HR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.16-4.50). Exposures to asbestos and arsenic were associated with increased odds of advanced stage at diagnosis (asbestos: odds ratio (OR) = 1.43 [95% CI, 1.11-1.84]; arsenic: OR = 1.27 [95% CI, 1.01-1.63]), and formaldehyde exposure was associated with increased risk of recurrence (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12-1.69). Our findings suggest that considering a patient's history of these exposures may benefit current risk stratification systems in better tailoring clinical care and improving prognosis among patients with NMIBC.

QSPR modeling for the prediction of partitioning of VOCs and SVOCs to indoor fabrics: Integrating environmental factors

Porous fabrics have a significant impact on indoor air quality by adsorbing and emitting chemical substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Understanding the partition behavior between organic compound molecules and indoor fabrics is crucial for assessing their environmental fate and associated human exposure. The physicochemical properties of fabrics and compounds are fundamental in determining the free energy of partitioning. Moreover, environmental factors like temperature and humidity critically affect the partition process by modifying the thermal and moisture conditions of the fabric. However, existing methods for determining the fabric-air partition coefficient are limited to specific fabric-chemical combinations and lack a comprehensive consideration of indoor environmental factors. In this study, large amounts of experimental data on fabric-air partition coefficients (Kfa) of (S)VOCs were collected for silk, polyester, and cotton fabrics. Key molecular descriptors were identified, integrating the influences of physicochemical properties, temperature, and humidity. Subsequently, two typical quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models were developed to correlate the Kfa values with the molecular descriptors. The fitting performance, robustness, and predictive ability of the two QSPR models were evaluated through statistical analysis and internal/external validation. This research provides insights for the high-throughput prediction of the environmental behaviors of indoor organic compounds.

Size-classified aerosol-bound heavy metals and their effects on human health risks in industrial and remote areas in Japan

Airborne aerosols were collected in six size classes (PM<0.1, PM0.1-0.5, PM0.5-1, PM1-2.5, PM2.5-10 and PM>10) to investigate aerosol health risks in remote and industrial areas in Japan. We focused on heavy metals and their water-dispersed fractions. The average concentration of heavy metals was 18 ± 25-86 ± 48 ngm-3 for PM<0.1, 46 ± 19-154 ± 80 for PM0.5-1 ngm-3, 98 ± 49-422 ± 186 ngm-3 for PM1-2.5, 321 ± 305-1288 ± 727 ngm-3 for PM2.5-10 and 65 ± 52-914 ± 339 ngm-3 or PM>10, and these concentrations were higher in industrial areas. Heavy metals emitted from domestic anthropogenic sources were added to the long-range transport component of the aerosols. The water-dispersed fraction of heavy metals contained 3.3-40.1% of the total heavy metals in each size class. The relative contribution of Zn and other species (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Mn, V and Cu) increased in the water-dispersed fraction. Smaller particles contained greater proportions of the water-dispersed heavy metal fraction. Carcinogenic risk (CR) and the hazard index (HI) were estimated for each size class. The CR of carcinogens was at acceptable levels (<1 ×10-6) for five particle size fractions. The HI values for carcinogens and noncarcinogens were also below acceptable levels (<1) for the same five size fractions. The estimated CR and HI values were dominated by contributions from the inhalation process.

Ten years of using key characteristics of human carcinogens to organize and evaluate mechanistic evidence in IARC Monographs on the identification of carcinogenic hazards to humans: Patterns and associations

Systematic review and evaluation of mechanistic evidence using the Key Characteristics approach was proposed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2012 and used by the IARC Monographs Working Groups since 2015. Key Characteristics are 10 features of agents known to cause cancer in humans. From 2015 to 2022, a total of 19 Monographs (73 agents combined) used Key Characteristics for cancer hazard classification. We hypothesized that a retrospective analysis of applications of the Key Characteristics approach to cancer hazard classification using heterogenous mechanistic data on diverse agents would be informative for systematic reviews in decision-making. We extracted information on the conclusions, data types, and the role mechanistic data played in the cancer hazard classification from each Monograph. Statistical analyses identified patterns in the use of Key Characteristics, as well as trends and correlations among Key Characteristics, data types, and ultimate decisions. Despite gaps in data for many agents and Key Characteristics, several significant results emerged. Mechanistic data from in vivo animal, in vitro animal, and in vitro human studies were most impactful in concluding that an agent could cause cancer via a Key Characteristic. To exclude the involvement of a Key Characteristic, data from large-scale systematic in vitro testing programs such as ToxCast, were most informative. Overall, increased availability of systemized data streams, such as human in vitro data, would provide the basis for more confident and informed conclusions about both positive and negative associations and inform expert judgments on cancer hazard.

Investigation of occupational risk factors for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: A hospital-based case-control study

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) is a malignancy of the lymphoid lineage of the hematopoietic system has worldwide, especially in developed countries. Better diagnostic and recording techniques, longer life expectancy, and greater exposure to risk factors are hypotheses for this growing incidence curve. Occupational exposures to chemical, biological, and physical agents have also been associated with NHL development, but the results are still controversial. We have investigated the occupational and lifestyle case-control study design with 214 adult patients and 452 population controls. Socio-demographic, clinical, and occupational exposure data were obtained through individual interviews with a standardized questionnaire. Clinical, laboratory, and histopathological data were obtained through medical records. Risk of NHL (any subtype), B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL, Follicular lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma was elevated among the those who had ever been exposed to any solvents, hydrocarbon solvents, pesticides, meat and meat products, and sunlight and tended to increase by years of exposure. A significant upward trend with years of exposure was detected for any solvents and hydrocarbon solvents (NHL (any subtype) p-value for trend<0.001), B-cell lymphoma (p-value for trend<0.001), and T-cell lymphoma (p-value for trend<0.023), pesticides (NHL (any subtype), p for trend<0.001) and T-cell lymphoma (p for trend<0.002), meat and meat products (NHL (any subtype) (p for trend<0.001) and DLBCL (p for trend<0.001), and sunlight (B-cell lymphoma (p for trend<0.001). The results of this study agree line with other international studies, can be extrapolated to other countries that have the same socio-demographic and occupational characteristics as Brazil and support strategies for surveillance and control of work-related cancer.

The politics of glyphosate regulation: lessons from Sri Lanka's short-lived ban

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is the world's most used herbicide and a central component of modern industrial agriculture. It has also been linked to a variety of negative health and environmental effects. For instance, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2015. This has motivated widespread political demands for stricter glyphosate regulation but so far few governments have followed through.

METHODS

We conduct a case study of Sri Lanka, which in 2015 became the first and so far only country in the world to adopt and implement a complete glyphosate ban. But this ban proved to be short-lived, as it was partially reversed in 2018 (and later fully revoked in 2022). To explain the political causes of Sri Lanka's pioneering glyphosate ban and its subsequent reversal, we employ process tracing methods drawing on publicly available documents. Our analysis is theoretically guided by the multiple streams framework and the concept of self-undermining policy feedback.

RESULTS

Glyphosate regulation rose to the top of the Sri Lankan political agenda in 2014 when a local scientist linked glyphosate exposure to an epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin (CKDu). A glyphosate ban was eventually adopted in June 2015 by the newly elected government of Maithripala Sirisena. The ban was a political commitment made to the Buddhist monk Rathana Thero and his party, which had supported Sirisena during his presidential campaign. The ban's partial reversal in 2018, implemented through sectoral exceptions, was the result of continued lobbying by export-oriented plantation industries and increased political concerns about potential negative effects on the large and structurally powerful tea sector. The reversal was further aided by the scientific community's failure to corroborate the hypothesized link between glyphosate and CKDu.

CONCLUSIONS

The case of Sri Lanka suggests that strict glyphosate regulation becomes more likely when coupled with locally salient health risks and when decision-making authority is de-delegated from regulatory agencies back to the political executive. Meanwhile, the short-lived nature of the Sri Lankan ban suggests that strict glyphosate regulation faces political sustainability threats, as the apparent lack of cost-effective alternative herbicides motivates persistent business lobbying for regulatory reversal.

Ten Years of Using Key Characteristics of Human Carcinogens to Organize and Evaluate Mechanistic Evidence in IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans: Patterns and Associations

Systematic review and evaluation of the mechanistic evidence only recently been instituted in cancer hazard identification step of decision-making. One example of organizing and evaluating mechanistic evidence is the Key Characteristics approach of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. The Key Characteristics of Human Carcinogens were proposed almost 10 years ago and have been used in every IARC Monograph since 2015. We investigated the patterns and associations in the use of Key Characteristics by the independent expert Working Groups. We examined 19 Monographs (2015-2022) that evaluated 73 agents. We extracted information on the conclusions by each Working Group on the strength of evidence for agent-Key Characteristic combinations, data types that were available for decisions, and the role mechanistic data played in the final cancer hazard classification. We conducted both descriptive and association analyses within and across data types. We found that IARC Working Groups were cautious when evaluating mechanistic evidence: for only ∼13% of the agents was strong evidence assigned for any Key Characteristic. Genotoxicity and cell proliferation were most data-rich, while little evidence was available for DNA repair and immortalization Key Characteristics. Analysis of the associations among Key Characteristics revealed that only chemical's metabolic activation was significantly co-occurring with genotoxicity and cell proliferation/death. Evidence from exposed humans was limited, while mechanistic evidence from rodent studies in vivo was often available. Only genotoxicity and cell proliferation/death were strongly associated with decisions on whether mechanistic data was impactful on the final cancer hazard classification. The practice of using the Key Characteristics approach is now well-established at IARC Monographs and other government agencies and the analyses presented herein will inform the future use of mechanistic evidence in regulatory decision-making.

Systemic impact of heavy metals and their role in cancer development: a review

Heavy metals are well-recognised as environmental hazards due to their toxicity, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation in living organisms. Human health is a crucial concern related to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems poisoned by harmful heavy metals. Most heavy metals pollute the air, water, and soil, which can be fatal to humans. Humans and other species can be exposed to heavy metals through the food chain if the metals oxidise or combine with other environmental elements (such as water, soil, or air). Their entry into the food chain assures interactions with biological macromolecules in living systems, including humans, resulting in undesirable outcomes. Human poisonings have typically been caused by mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. The build-up of these metals in living organisms causes various harmful consequences on different organs and tissues. The gravitas of heavy metal toxicity regarding molecular impact and carcinogenesis needs in-depth understanding despite the plethora of available data. Hence, additionally, we attempt to elaborate on the multi-level impact of five heavy metals and emphasise their role in cancer development. The rationale of this essay is thus to understand the role of five heavy metals, viz., lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg), in carcinogenesis. Heavy metals interfere with various biological functions, including proliferation, differentiation, repair of damage, and apoptosis. By comparing their modes of action, we see that these metals share common mechanisms for inducing toxicity, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidant defence weakening, enzyme inactivation, and oxidative stress.

The Usefulness of an Online Simplified Screening Questionnaire (SSQ) in Identifying Work-Related Cancers

To obtain a history of occupational exposure in the workplace, the questionnaire is one of the main sources of information. The aim of this study was to develop an online questionnaire using the REDCap data management platform based on the Work-Related Cancer Surveillance Guidelines, reported by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. Several issues were taken into consideration for its routine application. It should be simple, easy, capable of being applied in a short time and used in the clinical setting of collecting information on the occupational history of the cancer patient. Consequently, this could enable the compulsory notification of work-related cancer. The questionnaire was developed based on questions about the use of and exposure to carcinogenic factors at work and due to smoking. An entirely electronic version of the cancer patient interview was performed using tablets. The online questionnaire was applied at the Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, to newly diagnosed patients from July 2016 to 2018. A total of 1063 patients were included, and 550 indicated positively when asked "Do you work, or have you worked with this substance and/or in this function?/job?" Of these potentially notified patients, 38 subsequently had compulsorily reported work-related cancer. Another important result of this study was the creation and development of a website. In conclusion, we developed an online tool that could facilitate hospital routines, contributing to generating data for the compulsory notification of work-related cancer and triggering investigations and surveillance actions in Brazil.

Exposures to pesticides and risk of cancer: Evaluation of recent epidemiological evidence in humans and paths forward

Knowledge of the role in cancer etiology of environmental exposures as pesticides is a prerequisite for primary prevention. We review 63 epidemiological studies on exposure to pesticides and cancer risk in humans published from 2017 to 2021, with emphasis on new findings, methodological approaches, and gaps in the existing literature. While much of the recent evidence suggests causal relationships between pesticide exposure and cancer, the strongest evidence exists for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and colorectal cancer (CRC), diseases in which the observed associations were consistent across several studies, including high-quality prospective studies and those using biomarkers for exposure assessment, with some observing dose-response relationships. Though high-quality studies have been published since the IARC monograph on organophosphate insecticides in 2017, there are still gaps in the literature on carcinogenic evidence in humans for a large number of pesticides. To further knowledge, we suggest leveraging new techniques and methods to increase sensitivity and precision of exposure assessment, incorporate multi-omics data, and investigate more thoroughly exposure to chemical mixtures. There is also a strong need for better and larger population-based cohort studies that include younger and nonoccupationally exposed individuals, particularly during developmental periods of susceptibility. Though the existing evidence has limitations, as always in science, there is sufficient evidence to implement policies and regulatory action that limit pesticide exposure in humans and, hence, further prevent a significant burden of cancers.

Onco-pharmacist led evaluation of knowledge, attitude & practice (KAP) of safe handling cytotoxic drugs among health care professional's (HCP's) in tertiary care hospital: A hospital based interventional Study

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic drugs (CDs) are hazardous in nature. But it is necessary for the treatment in cancer patients. The healthcare professionals (HCPs) act as a facilitator through which the manufactured CDs reach the patient. However, safe handling of CDs becomes a primary concern not only for the recipients but also for the HCPs.

METHODS

On Ethics committee approval, a prospective- interventional study was conducted among HCPs who are involved in handling of CDs in Oncology department of tertiary care hospital. The participants were screened for their eligibility criteria & 73 HCPs were recruited. The initial data was collected from the HCPs through interview & questionnaires. Later the participants were trained by oncology-pharmacist (7-8 months) for safe handling of CDs. After the training the participants were tested again through interview & questionnaires.

RESULTS

73 participants, (75%) nurses & (25%) physicians were included in the study. Among these participants, only 32.87% underwent training on reconstitution whereas 67.12% of the participants didn't undergo any training. The increase in mean score of KAP after the training was observed to be 3.44 ± 4.32, 1.23 ± 1.51 and 1.3 ± 1.01 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that mandatory requirement of training for HCPs using SOP's by qualified oncology-pharmacist to minimize the hazardous effects of CDs. It also highlights the improvisation techniques for handling of CDs will enhance the safety profile of HCPs & the patients, which helps in refining the quality of pharmaceutical and health care services provided in the cancer care settings.

Monitoring residues of pesticides in food in Brazil: A multiscale analysis of the main contaminants, dietary cancer risk estimative and mechanisms associated

Introduction

Pesticides pose a risk for cancer development and progression. People are continuously exposed to such substances by several routes, including daily intake of contaminated food and water, especially in countries that are highly pesticide consumers and have very permissive legislation about pesticide contamination as Brazil. This work investigated the relationship among pesticides, food contamination, and dietary cancer risk.

Methods

Analyzed two social reports from the Brazilian Government: the Program for Analysis of Residues of Pesticides in Food (PARA) and The National Program for Control of Waste and Contaminants (PNCRC).

Results and discussion

First, we characterized the main pesticide residues detected over the maximum limits allowed by legislation or those prohibited for use in food samples analyzed across the country. Based on this list, we estimated the dietary cancer risks for some of the selected pesticides. Finally, we searched for data about dietary cancer risks and carcinogenic mechanisms of each pesticide. We also provided a critical analysis concerning the pesticide scenario in Brazil, aiming to discuss the food contamination levels observed from a geographical, political, and public health perspective. Exposures to pesticides in Brazil violate a range of human rights when food and water for human consumption are contaminated.

DBP and BaP co-exposure induces kidney injury via promoting pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in rats

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are widespread environmental and foodborne contaminants that have detrimental effects on human health. Although people are often simultaneously exposed to DBP and BaP via the intake of polluted food and water, the combined effects on the kidney and potential mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, we treated rats with DBP and BaP for 90 days to investigate their effects on kidney histopathology and function. We also investigated the levels of paramount proteins and genes involved in pyroptosis and TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling in the kidney. Our research showed that combined exposure to DBP and BaP triggered more severe histopathological and renal function abnormalities than in those exposed to DBP or BaP alone. Simultaneously, combined exposure to DBP and BaP enhanced the excretion of IL-1β and IL-18, along with the release of LDH in rat renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs). Moreover, combined exposure to DBP and BaP increased the expression of pyroptosis marker molecules, including NLRP3, ASC, cleaved-Caspase-1, and GSDMD. Meanwhile, the combination of DBP and BaP activated TLR4/NF-κB signaling in the kidney. Taken together, the combined exposure to DBP and BaP causes more severe kidney injury than that caused by DBP or BaP exposure separately. In addition, pyroptosis of RTECs regulated by TLR4/NF-κB signaling may add to the kidney damage triggered by combined exposure to DBP and BaP.

Estimated number of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France in 2017: an update using a new method for improved estimates

BACKGROUND

Over the last 50 years, occupational exposure to carcinogenic agents has been widely regulated in France.

OBJECTIVE

Report population-attributable fraction (PAF) and number of attributable cancer cases linked to occupational exposure in France based on an updated method to estimate lifetime occupational exposure prevalence.

METHODS

Population-level prevalence of lifetime exposure to ten carcinogenic agents (asbestos, benzene, chromium VI, diesel engine exhaust, formaldehyde, nickel compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, silica dust, trichloroethylene, wood dust) and two occupational circumstances (painters and rubber industry workers) were estimated using the French Census linked with MATGÉNÉ job-exposure matrices and French occupational surveys. PAF and number of attributable cancer cases were calculated using the estimated prevalence, relative risks from systematic review and national estimates of cancer incidence in 2017.

RESULTS

The lifetime occupational exposure prevalences were much higher in men than in women ranging from 0.2% (workers in the rubber industry) to 10.2% in men (silica), and from 0.10% (benzene, PAH and workers in the rubber industry) to 5.7% in women (formaldehyde). In total, 4,818 cancer cases (men: 4,223; women: 595) were attributable to the ten studied carcinogens and two occupational circumstances, representing 5.2% of cases among the studied cancer sites (M: 7.0%; W: 1.9%). In both sexes, mesothelioma (M: 689 cases; W: 160) and lung cancer (M: 3,032; W: 308) were the largest cancer sites impacted by the studied occupational agents and circumstances.

SIGNIFICANCE

A moderate proportion of the cancer cases in France is linked to carcinogens in occupational settings. Our method provides more precise estimates of attributable cancer taking into account evolution of exposure to occupational agents by sex, age and time. This methodology can be easily replicated using cross-sectional occupational data to aid priority making and implementation of prevention strategies in the workplace.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the action of carcinogens in gastric cancer with a glimpse into targeted therapy

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer imposes a substantial global health burden despite its overall incidence decrease. A broad spectrum of inherited, environmental and infectious factors contributes to the development of gastric cancer. A profound understanding of the molecular underpinnings of gastric cancer has lagged compared to several other tumors with similar incidence and morbidity rates, owing to our limited knowledge of the role of carcinogens in this malignancy. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified gastric carcinogenic agents into four groups based on scientific evidence from human and experimental animal studies. This review aims to explore the potential comprehensive molecular and biological impacts of carcinogens on gastric cancer development and their interactions and interferences with various cellular signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we highlight recent clinical trial data reported in the literature dealing with different ways to target various carcinogens in gastric cancer. Moreover, we touch upon other multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches such as surgery, adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Rational clinical trials focusing on identifying suitable patient populations are imperative to the success of single-agent therapeutics. Novel insights regarding signaling pathways that regulate gastric cancer can potentially improve treatment responses to targeted therapy alone or in combination with other/conventional treatments. Preventive strategies such as control of H. pylori infection through eradication or immunization as well as dietary habit and lifestyle changes may reduce the incidence of this multifactorial disease, especially in high prevalence areas. Further in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the role of carcinogenic agents in gastric cancer development may offer valuable information and update state-of-the-art resources for physicians and researchers to explore novel ways to combat this disease, from bench to bedside. A schematic outlining of the interaction between gastric carcinogenic agents and intracellular pathways in gastric cancer H. pylori stimulates multiple intracellular pathways, including PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Wnt, Shh, Ras/Raf, c-MET, and JAK/STAT, leading to epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, apoptosis, survival, motility, and inflammatory cytokine release. EBV can stimulate intracellular pathways such as the PI3K/Akt, RAS/RAF, JAK/STAT, Notch, TGF-β, and NF-κB, leading to cell survival and motility, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and the transcription of anti-apoptotic genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nicotine and alcohol can lead to angiogenesis, metastasis, survival, proliferation, pro-inflammatory, migration, and chemotactic by stimulating various intracellular signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Ras/Raf, ROS, and JAK/STAT. Processed meat contains numerous carcinogenic compounds that affect multiple intracellular pathways such as sGC/cGMP, p38 MAPK, ERK, and PI3K/AKT, leading to anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, inflammatory responses, proliferation, and invasion. Lead compounds may interact with multiple signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Ras/Raf, DNA methylation-dependent, and epigenetic-dependent, leading to tumorigenesis, carcinogenesis, malignancy, angiogenesis, DNA hypermethylation, cell survival, and cell proliferation. Stimulating signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, RAS/RAF, JAK/STAT, WNT, TGF-β, EGF, FGFR2, and E-cadherin through UV ionizing radiation leads to cell survival, proliferation, and immortalization in gastric cancer. The consequence of PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Ras/Raf, ROS, JAK/STAT, and WNT signaling stimulation by the carcinogenic component of Pickled vegetables and salted fish is the Warburg effect, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, proliferation, inflammatory response, and migration.

Development and validation of an integrated microfluidic device with an in-line Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) detection of glyphosate in drinking water

Glyphosate, also known as N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. However, the controversy surrounding the toxicity of glyphosate and its main breakdown product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), remains a serious public concern. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop a rapid, sensitive and automated alternative method for the quantification of glyphosate and AMPA. In this context, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with a microfluidic system for the determination of glyphosate in tap water was developed, optimized and validated. The design of the microfluidic configuration for this application was built constructed to integrate the synthesis of the SERS substrate through to the detection of the analyte. To optimize the microfluidic setup, a design of experiments approach was used to maximize the SERS signal of glyphosate. Subsequently, an approach based on the European guideline document SANTE/11312/2021 was used to validate the method in the range of 78-480 μg/L using the normalized band intensities. The limit of detection and quantification obtained for glyphosate were 40 and 78 μg/L, respectively. Recoveries were in the range 76-117%, while repeatability and intra-day reproducibility were ≤17%. Finally, the method was also tested for the determination of AMPA in tap water matrix and for the simultaneous detection of AMPA and glyphosate.

Cancer Effects of Low to Moderate Doses of Ionizing Radiation in Young People with Cancer-Predisposing Conditions: A Systematic Review

Moderate to high doses of ionizing radiation (IR) are known to increase the risk of cancer, particularly following childhood exposure. Concerns remain regarding risks from lower doses and the role of cancer-predisposing factors (CPF; genetic disorders, immunodeficiency, mutations/variants in DNA damage detection or repair genes) on radiation-induced cancer (RIC) risk. We conducted a systematic review of evidence that CPFs modify RIC risk in young people. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE for epidemiologic studies of cancer risk in humans (<25 years) with a CPF, exposed to low-moderate IR. Risk of bias was considered. Fifteen articles focusing on leukemia, lymphoma, breast, brain, and thyroid cancers were included. We found inadequate evidence that CPFs modify the risk of radiation-induced leukemia, lymphoma, brain/central nervous system, and thyroid cancers and limited evidence that BRCA mutations modify radiation-induced breast cancer risk. Heterogeneity was observed across studies regarding exposure measures, and the numbers of subjects with CPFs other than BRCA mutations were very small. Further studies with more appropriate study designs are needed to elucidate the impact of CPFs on RIC. They should focus either on populations of carriers of specific gene mutations or on common susceptible variants using polygenic risk scores.

Collective Protection Measures for Occupational Exposure to Carcinogenic Chemicals in France: The Links between Regulations on Chemicals and Effective Implementation

European directives stipulate that French employers take all available measures to reduce the use of carcinogenic agents. Our study explores the links between regulations on chemicals and the effective implementation of collective protection measures in France to occupational exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. Individual data from the French national cross-sectional survey of occupational hazards, conducted in 2017, were analysed. We investigated whether stricter regulations and longer exposures were associated with a higher level of collective protection using multivariate logistic regressions. In 2017, any collective protection measures were implemented for 35% of occupational situations involving exposure to a carcinogen. A total of 21% of exposure situations benefited from source-based controls (e.g., isolation chamber and local exhaust ventilation) and 26% from general ventilation, for which the effect is limited as collective protection. Our regressions showed that longer exposure durations were associated with more collective protection. Exposure situations to chemicals classified as proven carcinogens by the European Union (category 1A) benefited more from collective protections, which is not the case for products only classified as suspected carcinogens (category 1B). Exposures to products with a Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Value benefited more from source-based controls. Nonetheless, the time spent on the IARC list of carcinogens did not appear to influence the implementation of collective protection measures, except for local exhaust ventilation. At a time when efforts to improve the implementation of protective measures in order to drastically reduce the risks of occupational cancers are still necessary, stricter European and national regulations, but above all, better coordination with the work of the IARC and its classification, are avenues to pursue.

Proteases and HPV-Induced Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted disease with high prevalence worldwide. Although most HPV infections do not lead to cancer, some HPV types are correlated with the majority of cervical cancers, and with some anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Moreover, enzymes known as proteases play an essential role in the pathogenic process in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. This review highlights the role of proteases and recent epidemiological data regarding HPV-dependent carcinogenesis.

Abstract

Persistent infection with Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main etiologic factor for pre-malignant and malignant cervical lesions. Moreover, HPV is also associated with oropharynx and other anogenital carcinomas. Cancer-causing HPV viruses classified as group 1 carcinogens include 12 HPV types, with HPV 16 and 18 being the most prevalent. High-risk HPVs express two oncoproteins, E6 and E7, the products of which are responsible for the inhibition of p53 and pRB proteins, respectively, in human keratinocytes and cellular immortalization. p53 and pRB are pleiotropic proteins that regulate the activity of several signaling pathways and gene expression. Among the important factors that are augmented in HPV-mediated carcinogenesis, proteases not only control processes involved in cellular carcinogenesis but also control the microenvironment. For instance, genetic polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) are associated with carcinoma invasiveness. Similarly, the serine protease inhibitors hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) and -2 (HAI-2) have been identified as prognostic markers for HPV-dependent cervical carcinomas. This review highlights the most crucial mechanisms involved in HPV-dependent carcinogenesis, and includes a section on the proteolytic cascades that are important for the progression of this disease and their impact on patient health, treatment, and survival.

In vivo assessment of antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of bark ethanolic extract from Spondias purpurea L

Medicinal plants have always been used for therapeutic purposes; however, some plants may contain toxic and mutagenic substances. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of the bark ethanolic extract of Spondias purpurea L. using male and female Swiss albino mice. To determine the protective effects of the extract, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cyclophosphamide (CP) were selected as cell damage inducers. The extract was examined at doses of 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg body weight (BW)via gavage alone or concomitant with B[a]P or CP. Oxidative stress was measured by quantification of blood catalase activity (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in total blood, liver, and kidney, and concentrations of malondiadehyde (MDA) in liver and kidney. Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity were evaluated by the comet assay using peripheral blood. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity were determined utilizing the micronucleus test in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The S. purpurea L extract increased CAT activity and GSH levels accompanied by a decrease in MDA levels after treatment with B[a]P and CP. No genotoxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic effects were found in mice exposed only to the extract. These results indicate that the extract of S. purpurea exhibited protective effects against oxidative and DNA damage induced by B[a]P and CP.

Novel insights into the inhibitory mechanism of (+)-catechin against trimethylamine-N-oxide demethylase

Trimethylamine-N-oxide demethylase (TMAOase) is a key enzyme for the decomposition of trimethylamine oxide into formaldehyde. The study investigated the inhibitory effects of (+)-catechin on TMAOase and involved mechanism to minimize the formaldehyde (FA) content of seafood during storage. TMAOase was purified by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 chromatography and the inhibitory mechanism of TMAOase was studied by Lineweaver-Burk plots, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. Specific activity of 37 ± 0.7 U/mg was obtained with 205 -fold purification and 15% yield, and molecular mass was 25 kDa. (+)-Catechin was a reversible inhibitor of TMAOase and its induced mechanism was the non-competitive inhibition type. (+)-Catechin binding to TMAOase formed a complex with the binding constant (K_sv) of 0.72 × 10³ at 298 K. The formation of complex induced the static fluorescence quenching and changes in the conformation of TMAOase, leading to a reduction in the rate of catalysis.

A Review and Update with Perspective of Evidence that the Herbicide Glyphosate (Roundup) is a Cause of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Glyphosate-based formulations (GBFs), such as Roundup, are the most heavily used herbicides in the world. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that glyphosate and GBFs are probably carcinogenic to humans (group 2A), mainly for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, this finding has been controversial, and most pesticide regulatory agencies have not followed their lead. The purpose of this review was to examine the scientific literature linking exposure to glyphosate and GBFs to the development of NHL, with emphasis on new findings since publication of the IARC report. The epidemiologic studies provide ample evidence for an association between exposure to GBFs and an increased risk of NHL. Animal studies have shown that glyphosate is carcinogenic in rodents and causes NHL in mice. Mechanistic studies have demonstrated that glyphosate and GBFs are genotoxic to human lymphocytes, the normal cell of origin of NHL, both in vitro and in vivo. Genotoxic and other biological effects have also been shown in various animal and cell models with these agents even at low doses. A novel mechanism underlying the specificity of glyphosate for NHL, that is upregulation of the B-cell genome mutator enzyme activation-induced cytidine deaminase, has recently been demonstrated. These findings were evaluated holistically using the guidelines for evaluation of general causation set forth by Bradford Hill. This evaluation provides coherent and compelling evidence that glyphosate and GBFs are a cause of NHL in humans exposed to these agents. These findings should prompt new reviews by pesticide regulatory agencies around the world.

An innovative method to estimate lifetime prevalence of carcinogenic occupational circumstances: the example of painters and workers of the rubber manufacturing industry in France

BACKGROUND

Existing methods to estimate lifetime exposure to occupational carcinogenic agents could be improved.

OBJECTIVE

We propose a new method to estimate the lifetime prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens using the example of painters and workers of the rubber industry in France.

METHODS

From census, we calculated the proportion of painters and rubber industry workers using predefined occupational codes related to each occupation by sex and 10-year age group in 1982, 1990, 1999, 2007, and 2013. Using a beta-regression model, we obtained the yearly prevalence of exposure by 10-year age group over the period 1967-2007. We estimated the age- and sex-specific lifetime prevalence of exposure of the population in 2017 over 1967-2007, summing up the estimated prevalence of exposure for years 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, and 2007 combined with a sex- and age-specific turnover factor. Corresponding population-attributable fractions were estimated for lung and bladder cancers in 2017.

RESULTS

In 2017, we estimated that 5.6 and 0.2% of men in France had ever worked as a painter or in the rubber industry, respectively, during their working time. The lifetime prevalence of ever having worked as a painter or in the rubber industry was much lower in women: 1.8% and 0.1%, respectively. We estimated that 950 lung cancer and 40 bladder cancer cases were attributable to these occupations in 2017.

SIGNIFICANCE

Based on accurate data and taking into account evolution of specific jobs over time, the proposed method provides good estimates of lifetime prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens. It could be applied in any other country with similar data.

TiO2hierarchical nano blooming-flower decorated by Pt for formaldehyde detection

To achieve an ultra-low concentration formaldehyde detection at low temperature, a platinum (Pt) assisted TiO₂hierarchical nano blooming-flower sphere material is synthesized through hydrothermal method. SEM and transmission electron microscope characterizations show that the diameter of the nano sphere was around 2μm with dissilient rods of 60 nm in diameter and 1μm in length on the surface. The response (R_a/R_g) achieved form this nanomaterial to HCHO is 1.08 (100 ppb) and 5.82 (5 ppm) at 130 °C without an involvement of any light source or solution. The relationship curve between the responses and concentrations shows regular exponential trend. The verification of sensor stability done by a 3 month reliability test shows no response-degradation. The optimal response and stability is attributed to the massive dissilient rods on the surface of TiO₂spheres and the assistance of Pt as a catalyzer disperses to intensify the formation of depletion area on the surface of TiO₂. This study provide an attractive and cost effective solution for the detection of HCHO in air at a relatively low temperature.

The Effect of Exposure to Rubber Production Emissions and Physical Activity on Pulmonary Function Indices among Tyre Manufacturing Employees in Iran

Background:

Exposure to rubber production emissions can cause respiratory problems. There is some evidence that physical activity might have protective effects against respiratory obstruction.

Aims:

This study, was investigated the effect of physical activity on potential respiratory damages induced by the exposure to rubber production chemicals.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was carried out during 2019 on the staff of a rubber manufacturing company in Khorasan, Iran. Employees of a rubber manufacturing company were recruited in this cross-sectional study (n = 385), and were classified into exposed (n = 266) and unexposed (n = 119) groups. Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ) was used to assess the level of physical activity. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of exposure, physical activity and confounding variables on pulmonary function test (PFT) results.

Results:

Work, leisure time and total physical activity scores were significantly higher in exposure group compared with control group subjects. Although no significant differences were observed between the exposure and control groups in most spirometric parameters, FEF25-75 was significantly lower in the exposure group (P = 0.035). Abnormal PFT was observed in 93 participants (24.2%) and in the multivariate model was significantly associated with exposure (OR = 1.80, CI95: 1.01-3.22) and age (OR = 1.08, CI95: 1.02-1.14) but not physical activity score.

Conclusion:

Exposure to rubber manufacturing chemicals nearly doubles the odds of abnormal PFT, and the self-reported level of physical activity had no protective effect against these occupational hazards.

Arguments about face masks and Covid-19 reflect broader methodologic debates within medical science

There has perhaps been no issue as contentious in Covid-19 as face masks. The most contentious scientific debate has been between those who argue that "there is no scientific evidence", by which they mean that there are no randomized controlled trials (RCTs), versus those who argue that when the evidence is considered together, "the science supports that face coverings save lives". It used to be a 'given' that to decide whether a particular factor, either exogenous or endogenous, can cause a particular disease, and in what order of magnitude, one should consider all reasonably cogent evidence. This approach is being increasingly challenged, both scientifically and politically. The scientific challenge has come from methodologic views that focus on the randomized controlled trial (RCT) as the scientific gold standard, with priority being given, either to evidence from RCTs or to observational studies which closely mimic RCTs. The political challenge has come from various interests calling for the exclusion of epidemiological evidence from consideration by regulatory and advisory committees.

Relationships among smoking, oxidative stress, inflammation, macromolecular damage, and cancer

Smoking is a major risk factor for a variety of diseases, including cancer and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of chemicals, including a host of reactive oxygen- and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), among others, that can damage cellular and sub-cellular targets, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. A growing body of evidence supports a key role for smoking-induced ROS and the resulting oxidative stress in inflammation and carcinogenesis. This comprehensive and up-to-date review covers four interrelated topics, including 'smoking', 'oxidative stress', 'inflammation', and 'cancer'. The review discusses each of the four topics, while exploring the intersections among the topics by highlighting the macromolecular damage attributable to ROS. Specifically, oxidative damage to macromolecular targets, such as lipid peroxidation, post-translational modification of proteins, and DNA adduction, as well as enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms, and the multi-faceted repair pathways of oxidized lesions are described. Also discussed are the biological consequences of oxidative damage to macromolecules if they evade the defense mechanisms and/or are not repaired properly or in time. Emphasis is placed on the genetic- and epigenetic alterations that may lead to transcriptional deregulation of functionally-important genes and disruption of regulatory elements. Smoking-associated oxidative stress also activates the inflammatory response pathway, which triggers a cascade of events of which ROS production is an initial yet indispensable step. The release of ROS at the site of damage and inflammation helps combat foreign pathogens and restores the injured tissue, while simultaneously increasing the burden of oxidative stress. This creates a vicious cycle in which smoking-related oxidative stress causes inflammation, which in turn, results in further generation of ROS, and potentially increased oxidative damage to macromolecular targets that may lead to cancer initiation and/or progression.

Effects of phenolic compounds from blueberry leaves on the thermal decomposition of trimethylamine oxide in squid extract

The effects of chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside on the decomposition of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) in squid extract and the main mechanism of inhibition of thermal decomposition were studied. The results indicated that chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside could inhibit decomposition of TMAO in squid extract. The amount of TMAO was increased by 11.79 and 15.76% in squid extract treated with chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside from 0 and 2.5 g/L, respectively. The contents of trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylamine (DMA), and formaldehyde (FA) were significantly decreased with increasing contents of chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside. There were many free radicals in squid extract at high temperatures; however, the free radical signals were weakened after the addition of chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside therein. This implied that chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-D-galactoside could inhibit the thermal decomposition of TMAO in squid extract, which was associated with the scavenging of their free radicals. This result provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of blueberry leaf extract as an efficient FA inhibitor for aquatic products.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: economic, regulatory, and policy implications

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) substantially cost society as a result of increases in disease and disability but-unlike other toxicant classes such as carcinogens-have yet to be codified into regulations as a hazard category. This Series paper examines economic, regulatory, and policy approaches to limit human EDC exposures and describes potential improvements. In the EU, general principles for EDCs call for minimisation of human exposure, identification as substances of very high concern, and ban on use in pesticides. In the USA, screening and testing programmes are focused on oestrogenic EDCs exclusively, and regulation is strictly risk-based. Minimisation of human exposure is unlikely without a clear overarching definition for EDCs and relevant pre-marketing test requirements. We call for a multifaceted international programme (eg, modelled on the International Agency for Research in Cancer) to address the effects of EDCs on human health-an approach that would proactively identify hazards for subsequent regulation.

Cancer prevention and control: hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer (mostly hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) is both common and highly lethal throughout Africa, in particular in western and middle Africa where HCC is the first cause of cancer death in men and the third in women. In these high-incidence areas, HCC develops mostly early (<50 years), with an aggressive clinical course and frequently without prior diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. The dynamics of African populations predict that the burden of liver cancers will be multiplied by three to four in the next decades unless effective prevention and therapy is achieved. This article outlines a path for significantly curbing the mortality of liver cancer in Africa by combining primary prevention, improved early detection and introduction of innovative and appropriate management strategies.

Methods to account for uncertainties in exposure assessment in studies of environmental exposures

BACKGROUND

Accurate exposure estimation in environmental epidemiological studies is crucial for health risk assessment. Failure to account for uncertainties in exposure estimation could lead to biased results in exposure-response analyses. Assessment of the effects of uncertainties in exposure estimation on risk estimates received a lot of attention in radiation epidemiology and in several studies of diet and air pollution. The objective of this narrative review is to examine the commonly used statistical approaches to account for exposure estimation errors in risk analyses and to suggest how each could be applied in environmental epidemiological studies.

MAIN TEXT

We review two main error types in estimating exposures in epidemiological studies: shared and unshared errors and their subtypes. We describe the four main statistical approaches to adjust for exposure estimation uncertainties (regression calibration, simulation-extrapolation, Monte Carlo maximum likelihood and Bayesian model averaging) along with examples to give readers better understanding of their advantages and limitations. We also explain the advantages of using a 2-dimensional Monte-Carlo (2DMC) simulation method to quantify the effect of uncertainties in exposure estimates using full-likelihood methods. For exposures that are estimated independently between subjects and are more likely to introduce unshared errors, regression calibration and SIMEX methods are able to adequately account for exposure uncertainties in risk analyses. When an uncalibrated measuring device is used or estimation parameters with uncertain mean values are applied to a group of people, shared errors could potentially be large. In this case, Monte Carlo maximum likelihood and Bayesian model averaging methods based on estimates of exposure from the 2DMC simulations would work well. The majority of reviewed studies show relatively moderate changes (within 100%) in risk estimates after accounting for uncertainties in exposure estimates, except for the two studies which doubled/tripled naïve estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, we demonstrate various statistical methods to account for uncertain exposure estimates in risk analyses. The differences in the results of various adjustment methods could be due to various error structures in datasets and whether or not a proper statistical method was applied. Epidemiological studies of environmental exposures should include exposure-response analyses accounting for uncertainties in exposure estimates.

Primary prevention: a need for concerted action

The burden of cancer is increasing worldwide, and Europe is no exception in this regard. Cancer incidence rate for men in 2018, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers, averaged over the 40 UN-defined European countries has been estimated as 436/100 000. For women, the estimated incidence rate is 332.6/100 000. Although mortality rates are declining in most European countries, the total number of cancer deaths continues to rise due to an increase in the number of older people in the age range when the cancer typically occurs. The increase in incident cases and cancer deaths increases the pressure on healthcare infrastructure and related costs, thus presenting a challenge to health service sustainability in countries. In the general population, there remains a perception of an ever-increasing cancer risk. Hence, treatment alone is not a solution to address the cancer burden. At the same time, recent estimates of preventable fractions of cancer suggest that about half of all cancer cases could be prevented through rigorous implementation of successful prevention measures, among other actions, by following the cancer prevention recommendations of the European Code against Cancer. Smoking alone explains almost half of all preventable cancers, and the scattered way of implementing tobacco control in Europe with still increasing numbers of lung cancers in women demonstrates the gap between prevention potential and effectively implemented prevention. Cancer prevention clearly needs more resources, stronger support from decision-makers and society, and a solid network to better speak with one voice. The newly established 'Cancer Prevention Europe' (Forman et al., ) offers promising opportunities for the latter.

Cancers in France in 2015 attributable to occupational exposures

BACKGROUND

Recent and comprehensive estimates for the number of new cancer cases in France attributable to occupational exposures are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the number of new cancer cases attributable to occupational exposures, using a newly developed methodology and the most recent data, for a comprehensive set of occupational carcinogens in France in 2015.

METHODS

Surveys among employees, the national labor force data, a cohort of agricultural workers, national monitoring of workers exposed to ionizing radiation and job-exposure matrix in France were used. The number and proportion of new cancer cases attributable to established occupational carcinogens (Group 1) was estimated using estimation of lifetime exposure and risk estimates from cohort studies. Cancer data were obtained from the French Cancer Registries Network.

RESULTS

In France in 2015, an estimated 7905 new cancer cases, 7336 among men and 569 among women, were attributable to occupational exposures, representing 2.3% of all new cancer cases (3.9% and 0.4% among men and women respectively). Among men and women, lung cancer was impacted the most, followed by mesothelioma and bladder cancer in men, and by mesothelioma and ovary in women. These cancers contributed to 89% of the total cancers attributable to occupational carcinogens in men, and to 80% in women. The main contributing occupational agent was asbestos among men (45%) and women (60%).

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, occupational exposures contribute to a substantial burden of cancer in France. Enhanced monitoring and implementation of protective labor policies could potentially prevent a large proportion of these cancers.

Inverse association between Helicobacter pylori and inflammatory bowel disease: myth or fact?

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), are chronic, relapsing-remitting diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease (CD), Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Unclassified IBD (IBDU). Their pathogenesis involves genes and environment as cofactors in inducing autoimmunity; particularly the interactions between enteric pathogens and immunity is being studied. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is common pathogen causing gastric inflammation. Studies found an inverse prevalence association between HP and IBD, suggesting a potential protecting role of HP from IBD. Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database was performed using the key words‘’helicobacter pylori’’,‘’inflammatory bowel disease’’,‘’crohn disease’’, “ulcerative colitis”. Embase, Medline (OvidSP), Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed publisher, Cochrane and Google Scholar were also searched. Prevalence rate-ratios among HP in IBD patients, HP in CD patients, HP in UC patients, HP in IBDU patients were extracted, each group was compared with controls, to verify the inverse association between HP and IBD prevalence. Results: In all groups the dispersion of data suggested an inverse association between IBD group and controls, even when the comparison was carried out separately between each group of newly diagnosed patients and controls, to rule out the possible bias of ongoing pharmacologic therapy. Conclusions: The results of this review show a striking inverse association between HP infection and the prevalence of IBD, independently from the type of IBD considered across distinct geographic regions. Anyway, data should be interpreted cautiously, as wider, prospective and more homogeneous research on this topic are awaited, which could open new scenarios about environmental etiology of IBD. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Different mutational characteristics of the subsets of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sensitizing mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma

Background

A subset of lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sensitizing mutations (mEGFR) is common in non-smokers and women, suggesting that mutational stressors other than smoking are involved.

Methods

Targeted sequencing using a custom panel containing 70 cancer-related genes were performed from 73 cases of lung adenocarcinoma with mEGFR (study cohort). In parallel, publicly available data of 47 TCGA-LUAD cases with mEGFR (LUAD cohort) were extracted from the GDC data portal and analyzed by non-negative matrix factorization using the Maftools package.

Results

In the study cohort, the C > A transversions accounted for 12.9% of all single nucleotide variations (SNVs), comprising the second smallest proportion among SNVs. The E19del-subgroup had a significantly lower mutational burden with significantly higher Ti/Tv ratio than the SNV-subgroup, which includes cases with L858R and other EGFR-TKI sensitizing SNVs. (P = 0.0326 and 0.0002, respectively, Mann-Whitney U test). In the LUAD cohort, the mutational burden was substantially lower than in other TCGA cancer cohorts, and the frequency of C > A transversions was 30.3%, occupying the second frequency. The E19del-subgroup had a lower mutational burden overall and a higher Ti/Tv ratio than the SNV-subgroup (P = 0.0497 and P = 0.0055, respectively, Mann-Whitney U test). Smoking-related signature 4 was observed only in the L858R-subgroup, while ignature 30 and 5 was observed in both groups.

Conclusions

Lung adenocarcinoma with mEGFR(+) has a lower mutational burden and does not show a characteristic mutation pattern influenced by smoking. E19del and L858R, which are representative subtypes of mEGFR(+) lung adenocarcinoma, differ in terms of mutational spectrum, as the E19del-subgroup has a lower mutation burden and a higher Ti/Tv ratio than the SNV-subgroup. These findings could help explain the differences in the responses to EGFR-TKIs and in the clinical courses between the two lung adenocarcinoma subgroups.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-5116-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cancers related to lifestyle and environmental factors in France in 2015

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a major cause of premature illness and death in France. To quantify how cancer prevention could reduce the burden, we present estimates of the contribution of lifestyle and environmental risk factors to cancer incidence in France in 2015, comparing these with other high-income countries.

METHOD

Prevalences of, and relative risks for tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate diet, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, exogenous hormones, suboptimal breastfeeding, infectious agents, ionising radiation, air pollution, ultraviolet exposure, occupational exposures, arsenic in drinking water and indoor benzene were obtained to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) and the number of attributable cancers by the cancer site and sex.

RESULTS

In 2015, 41% (or 142,000 of 346,000) of all new cancers diagnosed in France could be attributed to the aforementioned risk factors. The numbers and PAF were slightly higher in men than in women (84,000 versus 58,000 cases and 44% versus 37%, respectively). Smoking (PAF: 20%), alcohol consumption (PAF: 8%), dietary factors (PAF: 5%) and excess weight (PAF: 5%) were the most important factors. Infections and occupational exposures each contributed to an additional 4% of the cancer cases in 2015.

CONCLUSION

Today, two-fifths of cancers in France are attributable to preventable risk factors. The variations in the key amenable factors responsible in France relative to other economically similar countries highlight the need for tailored approaches to cancer education and prevention. Reducing smoking and alcohol consumption and the adoption of healthier diet and body weight remain important targets to reduce the increasing number of new cancer patients in France in the decades to follow.

Molecular mechanisms of the preventable causes of cancer in the United States

Annually, there are 1.6 million new cases of cancer and nearly 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States alone. The public health burden associated with these numbers has motivated enormous research efforts into understanding the root causes of cancer. These efforts have led to the recognition that between 40% and 45% of cancers are associated with preventable risk factors and, importantly, have identified specific molecular mechanisms by which these exposures modify human physiology to induce or promote cancer. The increasingly refined knowledge of these mechanisms, which we summarize here, emphasizes the need for greater efforts toward primary cancer prevention through mitigation of modifiable risk factors. It also suggests exploitable avenues for improved secondary prevention (which includes the development of therapeutics designed for cancer interception and enhanced techniques for noninvasive screening and early detection) based on detailed knowledge of early neoplastic pathobiology. Such efforts would complement the current emphasis on the development of therapeutic approaches to treat established cancers and are likely to result in far greater gains in reducing morbidity and mortality.

The effects of acetaldehyde exposure on histone modifications and chromatin structure in human lung bronchial epithelial cells

As the primary metabolite of alcohol and the most abundant carcinogen in tobacco smoke, acetaldehyde is linked to a number of human diseases associated with chronic alcohol consumption and smoking including cancers. In addition to direct DNA damage as a result of the formation of acetaldehyde-DNA adducts, acetaldehyde may also indirectly impact proper genome function through the formation of protein adducts. Histone proteins are the major component of the chromatin. Post-translational histone modifications (PTMs) are critically important for the maintenance of genetic and epigenetic stability. However, little is known about how acetaldehyde-histone adducts affect histone modifications and chromatin structure. The results of protein carbonyl assays suggest that acetaldehyde forms adducts with histone proteins in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. The level of acetylation for N-terminal tails of cytosolic histones H3 and H4, an important modification for histone nuclear import and chromatin assembly, is significantly downregulated following acetaldehyde exposure in BEAS-2B cells, possibly due to the formation of histone adducts and/or the decrease in the expression of histone acetyltransferases. Notably, the level of nucleosomal histones in the chromatin fraction and at most of the genomic loci we tested are low in acetaldehyde-treated cells as compared with the control cells, which is suggestive of inhibition of chromatin assembly. Moreover, acetaldehyde exposure perturbs chromatin structure as evidenced by the increase in general chromatin accessibility and the decrease in nucleosome occupancy at genomic loci following acetaldehyde treatment. Our results indicate that regulation of histone modifications and chromatin accessibility may play important roles in acetaldehyde-induced pathogenesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:375-385, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.