Environmental factors in cancer

L. Migliore and F. Coppede, Genetic and environmental factors in cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases, Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research 512(2-3), 135-153 (2002). 

Wynder, E.L., Kajitani, T., Ishidawa, S., Dodo, H., and Takano, A., Environmental factors in cancer of colon and rectum. Cancer (Phila), 23, 1210, 1969. 

Migliore, L. and Copede, F. (2002) Genetic and environmental factors in cancer and neurode-generative diseases. Mutat. Res., 512, 135-153. 

Higginson, J. The Importance of Environmental Factors in Cancer. Lyon 1975. 

Environmental factors in cancer of the upper alimentary tract a Swedish study with special reference to... 

Colon cancer occurs at a much higher rate in industrialized parts of the world such as North America and Europe, whereas the lowest rates are seen in less-developed areas, suggesting that environmental and dietary factors influence the development of colon cancer.2 In addition to these environmental factors, colon cancers are known to develop more frequently in certain families, and genetic predisposition to this cancer is well known. 

Armstrong, B., Doll, R., Environmental factors and cancer incidence and mortality in different countries, with special reference to dietary practices, IntJ Cancer, 15, 617, 1975. 

Brinton LA, Devesa SS (1996) Etiology and pathogenesis of breast cancer. Epidemiologic factors. Incidence, demographics and environmental factors. In Harris JR, Lippman ME, Morrow M, Heilman S (eds) Diseases of the breast Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, pp 159-168... 

Rittmeyer L, Yang P, Schwartz AG, et al. 1995. Genetic and environmental factors in lung cancer susceptibility [Abstract]. Am J Hum Genet 57 A76. 

Armstrong, B. and Doll, R. 1975. Environmental factors and cancer incidence and mortality in different countries, with special reference to dietary practices. Intern. J. Cancer 15, 617-631. Arseculeratne, S., Gunatilaka, A., and Panabokke, R. 1981. Studies on medicinal plants of Sri Lanka Occurrence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and hepatotoxic properties in some traditional medicinal herbs. J. Ethnopharmacol. 4, 159-177. 

Skin cancer— The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Exposure to the sun s ultraviolet (UV) rays appears to be the most important environmental factor in developing skin cancer. This makes skin cancer a largely preventable disease when sun protective practices and behaviors are consistently applied and utilized. 

Carcinogenic agents include chemicals in the environment, such as aniline and benzene, which are associated with the development of bladder cancer and leukemia, respectively. Environmental factors, such as excessive sun exposure, also may result in cancer. Viruses, including the human papilloma virus and hepatitis B, maybe associated with the development of cancer. Some of the chemotherapy agents cause secondary cancers after therapy has been completed. Numerous factors may contribute to the development of cancer. 

Ovarian cancer is associated with certain dietary and environmental factors as well. A diet that is high in galactose and animal fat and meat increases the risk of ovarian cancer, whereas a vegetable-rich diet is suggested to decrease risk.4,8 Although controversial, exogenous factors such as asbestos and talcum powder use on the perineal area also have been suggested to increase the risk of ovarian cancer.4,8... 

Radiation is one of the most important known environmental stimuli of cancer development. This environmental factor becomes especially dangerous for humans living in the areas affected by irradiation from nuclear accidents. Earlier we found that the administration of a mixture of vitamin E and a-lipoic acid to children living in the area of Chernobyl nuclear accident significantly and synergistically suppressed leukocyte oxygen radical overproduction [211]. Thus a-lipoic acid and a-lipoic acid + vitamin E supplements may be of interest as antioxidant preventive agents for the treatment of radiation-induced cancer development. 

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