1. The Current Understanding Of Asbestos-Induced Epigenetic Changes Associated With Lung Cancer
- Author
-
Cheng,Yuen Yee, Rath,Emma M, Linton,Anthony, Yuen,Man Lee, Takahashi,Ken, Lee,Kenneth, Cheng,Yuen Yee, Rath,Emma M, Linton,Anthony, Yuen,Man Lee, Takahashi,Ken, and Lee,Kenneth
- Abstract
Yuen Yee Cheng, 1, 2 Emma M Rath, 3 Anthony Linton, 1, 2, 4 Man Lee Yuen, 1 Ken Takahashi, 1 Kenneth Lee 1, 2, 4 1Asbestos Disease Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 2Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 3Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 4Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaCorrespondence: Yuen Yee ChengAsbestos Disease Research Institute, PO Box 3628, Rhodes, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaTel +61 2 9767 9800Fax +61 2 9767 9860Email yycheng@adri.org.auAbstract: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral consisting of extremely fine fibres that can become trapped in the lungs after inhalation. Occupational and environmental exposures to asbestos are linked to development of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining surrounding the lung. This review discusses the factors that are making asbestos-induced lung cancer a continuing problem, including the extensive historic use of asbestos and decades long latency between exposure and disease development. Genomic mutations of DNA nucleotides and gene rearrangements driving lung cancer are well-studied, with biomarkers and targeted therapies already in clinical use for some of these mutations. The genes involved in these mutation biomarkers and targeted therapies are also involved in epigenetic mechanisms and are discussed in this review as it is hoped that identification of epigenetic aberrations in these genes will enable the same gene biomarkers and targeted therapies to be used. Currently, understanding of how asbestos fibres trapped in the lungs leads to epigenetic changes and lung cancer is incomplete. It has been shown that oxidoreduction reactions on fibre surfaces generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which in turn damage DNA, leading to genetic and epigenetic alterations that reduce th
- Published
- 2020