1. |
- Adami, Hans-Olov, et al.
(author)
-
The aetiology and pathogenesis of human breast cancer
- 1995
-
In: Mutation research. - 0027-5107 .- 1873-135X. ; 333:1-2, s. 29-35
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whilst investigators have clearly shown that non-hereditary factors dominate the aetiology of human breast cancer, they have failed to identify quantitatively important causes, and prospects for prevention remain indeed limited. However, progress in epidemiological and basic research has taken place during the last few years. Current evidence suggests that breast cancer may be affected by the intra-uterine environment, that exposures during adolescence are particularly important, and that pregnancy has a dual effect on breast cancer risk: an early increase followed by long-term protection. Great variation exists in the structural development of the breast ductal system already in the newborn--and by inference in utero--and a pregnancy induces permanent structural changes in the mammary gland. We suggest that these observations fit into an aetiological model with the following key components: (1) breast cancer risk depends on the number of cells at risk, the susceptibility of individual cells to malignant transformation, and on the degree of cellular proliferation, notably cells which can act as founders of breast cancer; (2) the number of target cells is determined by the hormonal environment mainly early in life, perhaps already in utero; (3) in adult life, hormones which are non-genotoxic, increase breast cancer risk by increasing selective cell proliferation and thus number of target cells and the risk of retention of spontaneous somatic mutations; (4) while a pregnancy stimulates the growth of already malignant cells or cells close to malignant transformation (and thereby entails a short-term risk increase) the dominating long-term protection occurs due to permanent structural changes, terminal differentiation and perhaps decreased cell proliferation and carcinogen-binding in combination.
|
|
2. |
|
|
3. |
|
|
4. |
- Brittebo, Eva B
(author)
-
Metabolism-dependent activation and toxicity of chemicals in nasal glands
- 1997
-
In: Mutation research. - 0027-5107 .- 1873-135X. ; 380:1-2, s. 61-75
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The mucosae of the nasal passages contain a large amount of glands which express secretory proteins as well as phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes. In this review the metabolic activation, covalent binding and toxicity of chemicals in the Bowman's glands in the olfactory mucosa, in the sere-mucous glands in the nasal septum and in the lateral nasal glands and maxillary glands around the maxillary sinuses are discussed. Light microscopic autoradiographic studies have demonstrated a selective covalent binding of nasal toxicants and carcinogens such as halogenated hydrocarbons and N-nitrosamines, especially in the Bowman's glands following a single systemic exposure, suggesting a high rate of metabolic activation of chemicals in these glands. Special attention is put on the herbicide dichlobenil which induces necrosis in the olfactory mucosa following a cytochrome-P450-mediated metabolic activation and covalent binding in the Bowman's glands.
|
|
5. |
|
|
6. |
|
|
7. |
|
|
8. |
- Högstrand, K., et al.
(author)
-
DNA damage caused by etoposide and γ-irradiation induces gene conversion of the MHC in a mouse non-germline testis cell line
- 1999
-
In: Mutation research. - 0027-5107 .- 1873-135X. ; 423:1-2, s. 155-169
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have explored the effects of γ-irradiation and etoposide on the gene conversion frequency between the endogenous major histocompatibility complex class II genes Abk and Ebd in a mouse testis cell line of non-germline origin with a polymerase chain reaction assay. Both γ-rays and etoposide were shown to increase the gene conversion frequency with up to 15-fold compared to untreated cells. Etoposide, which is an agent that stabilise a cleavable complex between DNA and DNA topoisomerase II, shows an increased induction of gene conversion events with increased dose of etoposide. Cells treated with γ-rays, which induce strand breaks, had an increased gene conversion frequency when they were subjected to low doses of irradiation, but increasing doses of irradiation did not lead to an increase of gene conversion events, which might reflect differences in the repair process depending on the extent and nature of the DNA damage. These results where DNA damage was shown to be able to induce gene conversion of endogenous genes in mouse testis cells suggests that the DNA repair system could be involved in the molecular genetic mechanism that results in gene conversion in higher eukaryotes like mammals.
|
|
9. |
|
|
10. |
|
|