Lung cancer related to occupational exposure: an integrative review

Adherence to Data-Driven Dietary Patterns and Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

The effect of dietary patterns on lung cancer risk is currently debated. In this study, we evaluated the association between different "a posteriori" dietary patterns and lung cancer risk. The search was carried out (February 2023) through Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Meta-analysis was performed by a random-effects model using risk values (RR and OR) extracted from the 12 selected studies. Two main dietary patterns were identified and named "Western/meat" and "Healthy/prudent". The highest adherence to the "Western/meat" dietary pattern significantly increased the lung cancer risk (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.17-1.65; p = 0.0002) while the highest adherence to the "Healthy/prudent" pattern reduced it (OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51-0.83; p = 0.001). A linear trend between both dietary patterns and lung cancer risk was observed. However, a statistically significant inverse dose-response trend was found only for the "Healthy/prudent" dietary pattern (regression coefficient = -0.0031, p = 0.003). Subgroup analyses showed that the "Western/meat" pattern significantly increased the lung cancer risk in former (n = 4) (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.11-3.36) and current smokers (n = 7) (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.06-1.71). Similarly, the "Healthy/prudent" pattern exerts a protective effect on former (n = 4) (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.44-0.85) and current smokers (n = 8) (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.88). For both dietary patterns, no significant effect was observed on never-smokers.

Lung cancer and occupational exposure: hospital-based case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationship between occupation and lung cancer in patients at a national referral hospital for cancer care in southern Brazil.

METHOD

Hospital-based case-control study conducted between February and October 2019. Occupational histories were coded according to international classifications and translated into occupations associated with lung cancer (List A and B). The odds ratios were adjusted for smoking, with a 95% confidence interval, calculated by conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

99 cases and 227 controls were included. Among men, the occupation of painters (list A) was associated with lung cancer (OR = 14.3; 95% CI: 1.8-116.5), there were no occupations in list B associated with lung cancer. In women, no increased risks were found.

CONCLUSIONS

It has been shown that exposure to occupational carcinogens among repair and construction painters increases the risk of lung cancer.

Câncer de pulmão e exposição ocupacional: estudo caso-controle de base hospitalar

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a relação entre ocupação e câncer de pulmão em pacientes de um hospital de referência nacional para atendimento oncológico no Sul do Brasil. Método Estudo caso-controle de base hospitalar realizado entre fevereiro e outubro de 2019. Os históricos ocupacionais foram codificados de acordo com classificações internacionais e traduzidos em ocupações associadas ao câncer de pulmão (Lista A e B). As odds ratios foram ajustadas para tabagismo, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, calculadas por regressão logística condicional. Resultados Foram incluídos 99 casos e 227 controles. Entre os homens a ocupação de pintores (lista A) estava associada ao câncer de pulmão (OR= 14,3; IC 95%: 1,8-116,5), não houve ocupações da lista B associadas ao câncer de pulmão. Nas mulheres não foram encontrados riscos aumentados. Conclusões Evidenciou-se que a exposição aos carcinógenos ocupacionais entre pintores de reparo e da construção civil aumentam o risco de câncer de pulmão.

Cancer Incidence and Risk of Multiple Cancers after Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Childhood-A Long-Term Register-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the asbestos-associated cancer incidence and the risk of multiple cancers in former school children exposed to environmental asbestos in childhood.

METHODS

A cohort of 12,111 former school children, born 1940-1970, was established using 7th grade school records from four schools located at a distance of 100-750 m in the prevailing wind direction from a large asbestos-cement plant that operated from 1928 to 1984 in Aalborg, Denmark. Using the unique Danish personal identification number, we linked information on employments, relatives' employments, date of cancer diagnosis, and type of cancer and vital status to data on cohortees extracted from the Supplementary Pension Fund Register (employment history), the Danish Cancer Registry, and the Danish Civil Registration System. We calculated standardized incidence rates (SIRs) for asbestos-associated cancers, all cancers, and multiple cancers using rates for a gender and five-year frequency-matched reference cohort.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of cancer was modestly increased for the school cohort (SIR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.12) compared with the reference cohort. This excess was driven primarily by a significantly increased SIR for malignant mesothelioma (SIR 8.77, 95% CI 6.38-12.05). Former school children who had combined childhood environmental and subsequent occupational exposure to asbestos had a significantly increased risk of lung cancer. Within this group, those with additional household exposure by a relative had a significantly increased SIR for cancer of the pharynx (SIR 4.24, 95% CI 1.59-11.29). We found no significant difference in the number of subjects diagnosed with multiple cancers between the two cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the strong association between environmental asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma and suggests that environmental asbestos exposure in childhood may increase the overall cancer risk later in life.

CD47 blockade enhances therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin against lung carcinoma in a murine model

Cisplatin (CDDP) is the first generation of platinum-based drug and is widely used to treat many cancers due to its potency. The present study aims to explore the effects of CDDP on lung carcinoma and its relationship with macrophage phagocytosis. In in vitro study, murine and human lung cancer cell lines were applied and treated with CDDP, CD47 antibody (aCD47), or CDDP plus aCD47. In in vivo study, a tumor xenograft animal model was treated with CDDP, aCD47, or CDDP plus aCD47. Real-time PCR was applied to determine the mRNA expressions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and Immunofluorescent staining were applied to determine the protein expressions. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze cell apoptosis, phagocytosis, and specific cell populations. CDDP enhanced the expressions of CD47 in lung cancer cells. Interestingly, the blockage of CD47 enhanced the macrophages' phagocytic activity on the CDDP-treated tumor cells. The treatment of CDDP and aCD47 exhibited anti-tumor effects and prolonged the LLC tumor-bearing mice survival time. Mechanistic studies revealed that the treatment of CDDP and aCD47 regulated the phagocytic activity of macrophage, percentage of CD8+ T cells, and cytokines (tumor growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin (IL)12p70, and interferon (IFN)-γ) in the tumor-bearing model. CD47 blockade enhanced therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin against lung carcinoma in vivo and in vitro.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveal the p53-dependent benzeneacetic acid attenuation of silica-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human bronchial epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Silica exposure underlies the development of silicosis, one of the most serious occupational hazards worldwide. We aimed to explore the interaction of the silica-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related transcripts with the cellular metabolism regulated by p53.

METHODS

We knocked out p53 using CRISPR/Cas9 in the human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cell line. The transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses and integrative omics were conducted using microarrays, GC-MS, and MetaboAnalyst, respectively.

RESULTS

Fifty-two mRNAs showed significantly altered expression in the HBE p53-KO cells post-silica exposure. A total of 42 metabolites were putatively involved in p53-dependent silica-mediated HBE cell dysfunction. Through integrated data analysis, we obtained five significant p53-dependent metabolic pathways including phenylalanine, glyoxylate, dicarboxylate, and linoleic acid metabolism, and the citrate cycle. Through metabolite screening, we further identified that benzeneacetic acid, a key regulation metabolite in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, attenuated the silica-induced EMT in HBE cells in a p53-dependent manner. Interestingly, despite the extensive p53-related published literature, the clinical translation of these studies remains unsubstantial.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which epithelial cells respond to silica exposure and provide fresh perspective and direction for future clinical biomarker research and potential clinically sustainable and translatable role of p53.