Carcinogenesis, chemical epigenetic

Williams GM. 1981. Liver carcinogenesis The role for some chemicals of an epigenetic mechanisms of liver-tumor promotion involving modification of the cell membrane. Food Cosmet Toxicol 19(5) 577- 583. 

Chemically induced cell proliferation also may be a mechanism of epigenetic carcinogenesis. 

Finally, a third approach has been proposed with five stages that focus on the chemical structure, DNA-reactivity, epigenetic effects, limited bioassays, and finally, the application of accelerated bioassays. These accelerated bio assays require 40 weeks and apply to the use of sensitive markers for induction of neoplasia in comparison to positive control compounds for important organs in human carcinogenesis. It enables data acquisition of the entire carcinogenesis process directed toward developing mechanistic information. This system would have the potential to replace the chronic bioassay in rodents in some circumstances and could serve a analternative to a chronic bioassay in a second species. ... 

Chemical carcinogenesis may involve several mechanisms (i) interaction with DNA (ii) activation of cellular oncogenes (iii) DNA repair (iv) epigenetic mechanisms (v) cell proliferation. 

In contrast to genotoxic carcinogens, epigenetic carcinogens act by a wide variety of mechanisms. Some of the possible epigenetic mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis include peroxisome proliferation, inhibition of intercellular communication, microtubule alteration, hormonal imbalance, cytotoxicity, immunomodulation, inhibition of DNA methylation, etc. 

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