Use of chemical, biochemical, and genetic markers in cancer epidemiology and risk assessment

Abstract

New molecular methods have been developed to be used in assessing exposure to and effects of genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds. DNA and protein adducts are measures or surrogates of target dose. Molecular methods are available to probe mutations in oncogenes, antioncogenes, and other specific genes. Furthermore, concentrations of oncoproteins can be determined in biological fluids. If a close link is established between these markers and risk of cancer, they can be used as independent endpoints in the prevention of cancer.

Elevated serum levels of pantropic p53 proteins in chromium workers

“…Molecular biomarkers are expected to be useful for the assessment of individual risk due to environmental carcinogen exposure (27). From the aspect of occupational and environmental health, genetic monitoring using molecular biomarkers is considered to be a promising strategy for identifying hazards and indicating actions which should be taken to reduce the hazardous exposure (28).…”

Begutachtung bei malignen Erkrankungen

“…B. DNS, Proteine, Hämoglobin) und kanzerogenen Stoffen führen [9,24]. Interindividuell unterschiedlich aktive Schritte im Metabolismus (z.…”

Cancer and the workplace

“…Finally, exposure to toxic chemicals is sometimes estimated from human‐derived measurement of the chemicals themselves, their metabolites, or other effects of their interaction with biologic materials, such as adducts with DNA. These methods are collectively known as biomarker methods 16 . While biomarker methods are becoming increasingly popular, their reliability still remains to be fully established, chiefly because they usually require extrapolation from current or relatively recent measurements to exposures that may have taken place in the distant past when carcinogenic effects may have, in fact, been more relevant.…”