Cancer-producing compounds

An important aspect of the act is the so-called Delaney clause, which specifies that no additive shall be deemed safe if it is found to induce cancer in man or animal. Such special consideration in the case of cancer-producing compounds is not incorporated in the food laws of many other countries. 

Gas-phase nitration of aromatic compounds with nitrogen dioxide or the nitrating mixture is a serious ecological problem. It proceeds simultaneously in the atmosphere and results in the formation of cancer-producing components in air (Wamek 1988). 

The bark of the cascara tree of the northwestern region of the United States yields cascara, a laxative used in medicine. Several hundred tons of bark are harvested annually. One of the most promising anti-carcinogenic compounds to be discovered in the last 25 years was found in the bark and wood of the Pacific Yew tree from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This compound, taxol, was found to be quite effective by the National Cancer Institute for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. The compound is now produced by partial synthetic routes and is available commercially under the generic name, paclitaxel. 

This adipic acid synthesis poses environmental and health concerns because it has benzene as a starting material. Benzene is a volatile organic compound and its inhalation can lead to leukemia and cancer. This compound, therefore, is often an occupational hazard to those who work with it or come in contact with it. Moreover, benzene is a byproduct of petroleum manufacture thus, it is produced from a non-renewable source. 

Advances in technology have helped us to tap another of earth s resources—the sea—to find drugs. For example, animal and plant microbes taken from the sea in the Bahamas provide chemicals that seem to inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. Bacteria taken from jellyfish in Florida produce compounds that kill some cancer cells and fight inflammation and swelling. 

Though not solely active in cancer, the molecules based on the rapamycin skeleton (70, Figure 12) show the capability of a single skeleton to produce compounds that are active in a variety of pharmacologic areas, including cancer. Initially, modifications were at one site and led to four clinical drugs, with the rapamycin base... 

I would next like to ask you a few questions about plants genetically modified to produce pharmaceutical drugs. These plants are modified to produce compounds used in manufacturing vaccines for diarrhea, antibodies to fight cancer, and drugs to treat such illnesses as cystic fibrosis. 

Some chemicals are carcinogenic (cancer producing). For example, bitumen, mineral oil, aromatic compounds, vinyl chloride, benzidene, and biphenyl pyridine are the known carcinogens and their use is eliminated or replaced by noncarcinogenic chemicals. Asbestos is a particulate... 

Persons undergoing severe exposure to this compound should have continuing medical attention for possible development of cancer. INHALATION obtain with soap and water. INGESTION get medical anention. Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit Value) Data not available Short-Term Inhalation Limits Data not available Toxicity by Ingestion Grade 2 oral LDjo =779 mg/kg (rat), 4,(X)0 mg/kg (mammal) Late Toxicity Considered cancer-producing, particularly since it may contain up to 0.5% of 2-naphthylamine. Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics Data not available Odor Threshold Data not available. 

The Cancer Question. Without doubt, the greatest concern of people is the involvement of nitrates and nitrites in directly causing cancer, or in indirectly producing compounds known as nitrosamines. Since nitrosamines are definitely accepted as carcinogens in test animals, a majority of the furor around nitrates and nitrites stems from this fact. 

While Sulfur Mustard was used extensively in World War I and World War II, its relative Nitrogen Mustard was stockpiled by several nations during the Second World War, but never used in combat. All Nitrogen Mustards (HN-1, HN-2 and HN-3) were synthesized in the 1930s, but were not produced in amounts large enough for warfare. Mechlorethamine (HN-2 Mustargen) became a prototypical cancer chemotherapeutic compound and remained the standard compound for this purpose for many years [23]. 

ImmunO lSS iy. Chemiluminescence compounds (eg, acridinium esters and sulfonamides, isoluminol), luciferases (eg, firefly, marine bacterial, Benilla and Varela luciferase), photoproteins (eg, aequorin, Benilld), and components of bioluminescence reactions have been tested as replacements for radioactive labels in both competitive and sandwich-type immunoassays. Acridinium ester labels are used extensively in routine clinical immunoassay analysis designed to detect a wide range of hormones, cancer markers, specific antibodies, specific proteins, and therapeutic dmgs. An acridinium ester label produces a flash of light when it reacts with an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide. The detection limit for the label is 0.5 amol. 

Another monoterpene used as a starting material for taxol analogues is camphor (43), which is readily available naturally or can be produced synthetically (201,202). Total synthesis of taxol analogues may be the answer toward finding new compounds for the treatment of many types of cancer. 

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