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Bassan A, Steigerwalt R, Keller D, Beilke L, Bradley PM, Bringezu F, Brock WJ, Burns-Naas LA, Chambers J, Cross K, Dorato M, Elespuru R, Fuhrer D, Hall F, Hartke J, Jahnke GD, Kluxen FM, McDuffie E, Schmidt F, Valentin JP, Woolley D, Zane D, Myatt GJ. Developing a pragmatic consensus procedure supporting the ICH S1B(R1) weight of evidence carcinogenicity assessment. Front Toxicol 2024; 6:1370045. [PMID: 38646442 PMCID: PMC11027748 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1370045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The ICH S1B carcinogenicity global testing guideline has been recently revised with a novel addendum that describes a comprehensive integrated Weight of Evidence (WoE) approach to determine the need for a 2-year rat carcinogenicity study. In the present work, experts from different organizations have joined efforts to standardize as much as possible a procedural framework for the integration of evidence associated with the different ICH S1B(R1) WoE criteria. The framework uses a pragmatic consensus procedure for carcinogenicity hazard assessment to facilitate transparent, consistent, and documented decision-making and it discusses best-practices both for the organization of studies and presentation of data in a format suitable for regulatory review. First, it is acknowledged that the six WoE factors described in the addendum form an integrated network of evidence within a holistic assessment framework that is used synergistically to analyze and explain safety signals. Second, the proposed standardized procedure builds upon different considerations related to the primary sources of evidence, mechanistic analysis, alternative methodologies and novel investigative approaches, metabolites, and reliability of the data and other acquired information. Each of the six WoE factors is described highlighting how they can contribute evidence for the overall WoE assessment. A suggested reporting format to summarize the cross-integration of evidence from the different WoE factors is also presented. This work also notes that even if a 2-year rat study is ultimately required, creating a WoE assessment is valuable in understanding the specific factors and levels of human carcinogenic risk better than have been identified previously with the 2-year rat bioassay alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Douglas Keller
- Independent Consultant, Kennett Square, PA, United States
| | - Lisa Beilke
- Toxicology Solutions, Inc., Marana, AZ, United States
| | | | - Frank Bringezu
- Chemical and Preclinical Safety, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - William J. Brock
- Brock Scientific Consulting, LLC, Hilton Head, SC, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Douglas Fuhrer
- BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc., New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Jim Hartke
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Eric McDuffie
- Neurocrine Bioscience, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Doris Zane
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, United States
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Sanz-Serrano J, Callewaert E, De Boever S, Drees A, Verhoeven A, Vinken M. Chemical-induced liver cancer: an adverse outcome pathway perspective. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2024; 23:425-438. [PMID: 38430529 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2326479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The evaluation of the potential carcinogenicity is a key consideration in the risk assessment of chemicals. Predictive toxicology is currently switching toward non-animal approaches that rely on the mechanistic understanding of toxicity. AREAS COVERED Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) present toxicological processes, including chemical-induced carcinogenicity, in a visual and comprehensive manner, which serve as the conceptual backbone for the development of non-animal approaches eligible for hazard identification. The current review provides an overview of the available AOPs leading to liver cancer and discusses their use in advanced testing of liver carcinogenic chemicals. Moreover, the challenges related to their use in risk assessment are outlined, including the exploitation of available data, the need for semantic ontologies, and the development of quantitative AOPs. EXPERT OPINION To exploit the potential of liver cancer AOPs in the field of risk assessment, 3 immediate prerequisites need to be fulfilled. These include developing human relevant AOPs for chemical-induced liver cancer, increasing the number of AOPs integrating quantitative toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic data, and developing a liver cancer AOP network. As AOPs and other areas in the field continue to evolve, liver cancer AOPs will progress into a reliable and robust tool serving future risk assessment and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julen Sanz-Serrano
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ellen Callewaert
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sybren De Boever
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annika Drees
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anouk Verhoeven
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Berridge BR, Bucher JR, Sistare F, Stevens JL, Chappell GA, Clemons M, Snow S, Wignall J, Shipkowski KA. Enabling novel paradigms: a biological questions-based approach to human chemical hazard and drug safety assessment. Toxicol Sci 2024; 198:4-13. [PMID: 38134427 PMCID: PMC10901149 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughput needs, costs of time and resources, and concerns about the use of animals in hazard and safety assessment studies are fueling a growing interest in adopting new approach methodologies for use in product development and risk assessment. However, current efforts to define "next-generation risk assessment" vary considerably across commercial and regulatory sectors, and an a priori definition of the biological scope of data needed to assess hazards is generally lacking. We propose that the absence of clearly defined questions that can be answered during hazard assessment is the primary barrier to the generation of a paradigm flexible enough to be used across varying product development and approval decision contexts. Herein, we propose a biological questions-based approach (BQBA) for hazard and safety assessment to facilitate fit-for-purpose method selection and more efficient evidence-based decision-making. The key pillars of this novel approach are bioavailability, bioactivity, adversity, and susceptibility. This BQBA is compared with current hazard approaches and is applied in scenarios of varying pathobiological understanding and/or regulatory testing requirements. To further define the paradigm and key questions that allow better prediction and characterization of human health hazard, a multidisciplinary collaboration among stakeholder groups should be initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Berridge
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - John R Bucher
- Retired (Division of Translational Toxicology, NIEHS), Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278, USA
| | | | - James L Stevens
- Paradox Found Consulting Services, Apex, North Carolina 27523, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Kelly A Shipkowski
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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4
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Wang T, Cao Y, Xia Z, Christiani DC, Au WW. Review on novel toxicological effects and personalized health hazard in workers exposed to low doses of benzene. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:365-374. [PMID: 38142431 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03650-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Several recent reports indicate health hazards for workers with below occupational limit exposure to benzene (BZ). Our updated review indicates that such low exposures induced traditional as well as novel toxicity/genotoxicity, e.g., increased mitochondria copy numbers, prolongation of telomeres, impairment of DNA damage repair response (DDRR), perturbations of expression in non-coding RNAs, and epigenetic changes. These abnormalities were associated with alterations of gene expression and cellular signaling pathways which affected hematopoietic cell development, expression of apoptosis, autophagy, etc. The overarching mechanisms for induction of health risk are impaired DDRR, inhibition of tumor suppressor genes, and changes of MDM2-p53 axis activities that contribute to perturbed control for cancer pathways. Evaluation of the unusual dose-responses to BZ exposure indicates cellular over-compensation and reprogramming to overcome toxicity and to promote survival. However, these abnormal mechanisms also promote the induction of leukemia. Further investigations indicate that the current exposure limits for workers to BZ are unacceptable. Based on these studies, the new exposure limits should be less than 0.07 ppm rather than the current 1 ppm. This review also emphasizes the need to conduct appropriate bioassays, and to provide more reliable decisions on health hazards as well as on exposure limits for workers. In addition, it is important to use scientific data to provide significantly improved risk assessment, i.e., shifting from a population- to an individual-based risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongshuai Wang
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Yiyi Cao
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhaolin Xia
- Department of Occupational Health & Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - David C Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William W Au
- School of Public and Population Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China.
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Ricker K, Cheng V, Hsieh CJ, Tsai FC, Osborne G, Li K, Yilmazer-Musa M, Sandy MS, Cogliano VJ, Schmitz R, Sun M. Application of the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens to Bisphenol A. Int J Toxicol 2024:10915818231225161. [PMID: 38204208 DOI: 10.1177/10915818231225161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The ten key characteristics (KCs) of carcinogens are based on characteristics of known human carcinogens and encompass many types of endpoints. We propose that an objective review of the large amount of cancer mechanistic evidence for the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) can be achieved through use of these KCs. A search on metabolic and mechanistic data relevant to the carcinogenicity of BPA was conducted and web-based software tools were used to screen and organize the results. We applied the KCs to systematically identify, organize, and summarize mechanistic information for BPA, and to bring relevant carcinogenic mechanisms into focus. For some KCs with very large data sets, we utilized reviews focused on specific endpoints. Over 3000 studies for BPA from various data streams (exposed humans, animals, in vitro and cell-free systems) were identified. Mechanistic data relevant to each of the ten KCs were identified, with receptor-mediated effects, epigenetic alterations, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation being especially data rich. Reactive and bioactive metabolites are also associated with a number of KCs. This review demonstrates how the KCs can be applied to evaluate mechanistic data, especially for data-rich chemicals. While individual entities may have different approaches for the incorporation of mechanistic data in cancer hazard identification, the KCs provide a practical framework for conducting an objective examination of the available mechanistic data without a priori assumptions on mode of action. This analysis of the mechanistic data available for BPA suggests multiple and inter-connected mechanisms through which this chemical can act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Ricker
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Vanessa Cheng
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Chingyi Jennifer Hsieh
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Feng C Tsai
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Osborne
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Kate Li
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Meltem Yilmazer-Musa
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Martha S Sandy
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Vincent J Cogliano
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Rose Schmitz
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Meng Sun
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Kay JE, Brody JG, Schwarzman M, Rudel RA. Application of the Key Characteristics Framework to Identify Potential Breast Carcinogens Using Publicly Available in Vivo, in Vitro, and in Silico Data. Environ Health Perspect 2024; 132:17002. [PMID: 38197648 PMCID: PMC10777819 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemicals that induce mammary tumors in rodents or activate estrogen or progesterone signaling are likely to increase breast cancer (BC) risk. Identifying chemicals with these activities can prompt steps to protect human health. OBJECTIVES We compiled data on rodent tumors, endocrine activity, and genotoxicity to assess the key characteristics (KCs) of rodent mammary carcinogens (MCs), and to identify other chemicals that exhibit these effects and may therefore increase BC risk. METHODS Using authoritative databases, including International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs and the US Environmental Protection's (EPA) ToxCast, we selected chemicals that induce mammary tumors in rodents, stimulate estradiol or progesterone synthesis, or activate the estrogen receptor (ER) in vitro. We classified these chemicals by their genotoxicity and strength of endocrine activity and calculated the overrepresentation (enrichment) of these KCs among MCs. Finally, we evaluated whether these KCs predict whether a chemical is likely to induce mammary tumors. RESULTS We identified 279 MCs and an additional 642 chemicals that stimulate estrogen or progesterone signaling. MCs were significantly enriched for steroidogenicity, ER agonism, and genotoxicity, supporting the use of these KCs to predict whether a chemical is likely to induce rodent mammary tumors and, by inference, increase BC risk. More MCs were steroidogens than ER agonists, and many increased both estradiol and progesterone. Enrichment among MCs was greater for strong endocrine activity vs. weak or inactive, with a significant trend. DISCUSSION We identified hundreds of compounds that have biological activities that could increase BC risk and demonstrated that these activities are enriched among MCs. We argue that many of these should not be considered low hazard without investigating their ability to affect the breast, and chemicals with the strongest evidence can be targeted for exposure reduction. We describe ways to strengthen hazard identification, including improved assessments for mammary effects, developing assays for more KCs, and more comprehensive chemical testing. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13233.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megan Schwarzman
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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7
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Chang VC, Zhou W, Berndt SI, Andreotti G, Yeager M, Parks CG, Sandler DP, Rothman N, Beane Freeman LE, Machiela MJ, Hofmann JN. Glyphosate Use and Mosaic Loss of Chromosome Y among Male Farmers in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:127006. [PMID: 38055050 PMCID: PMC10699410 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide worldwide and has been implicated in the development of certain hematologic cancers. Although mechanistic studies in human cells and animals support the genotoxic effects of glyphosate, evidence in human populations is scarce. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the association between lifetime occupational glyphosate use and mosaic loss of chromosome Y (mLOY) as a marker of genotoxicity among male farmers. METHODS We analyzed blood-derived DNA from 1,606 farmers ≥ 50 years of age in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture study, a subcohort of the Agricultural Health Study. mLOY was detected using genotyping array intensity data in the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes. Cumulative lifetime glyphosate use was assessed using self-reported pesticide exposure histories. Using multivariable logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between glyphosate use and any detectable mLOY (overall mLOY) or mLOY affecting ≥ 10 % of cells (expanded mLOY). RESULTS Overall, mLOY was detected in 21.4% of farmers, and 9.8% of all farmers had expanded mLOY. Increasing total lifetime days of glyphosate use was associated with expanded mLOY [highest vs. lowest quartile; OR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.00, 3.07), p trend = 0.03 ] but not with overall mLOY; the associations with expanded mLOY were most apparent among older (≥ 70 years of age) men [OR = 2.30 (95% CI: 1.13, 4.67), p trend = 0.01 ], never smokers [OR = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.04, 5.21), p trend = 0.04 ], and nonobese men [OR = 2.04 (95% CI: 0.99, 4.19), p trend = 0.03 ]. Similar patterns of associations were observed for intensity-weighted lifetime days of glyphosate use. DISCUSSION High lifetime glyphosate use could be associated with mLOY affecting a larger fraction of cells, suggesting glyphosate could confer genotoxic or selective effects relevant for clonal expansion. As the first study to investigate this association, our findings contribute novel evidence regarding the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate and require replication in future studies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12834.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky C. Chang
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Weiyin Zhou
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sonja I. Berndt
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gabriella Andreotti
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Meredith Yeager
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine G. Parks
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, DHHS, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, DHHS, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nathaniel Rothman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura E. Beane Freeman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mitchell J. Machiela
- Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan N. Hofmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Andrews DQ, Stoiber T, Temkin AM, Naidenko OV. Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species? Sci Total Environ 2023; 901:165939. [PMID: 37769722 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Global contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a threat to both human health and the environment, with significant implications for ecological conservation policies. A growing list of peer-reviewed publications indicates that PFAS can harm wildlife health and that the adverse effects associated with PFAS exposure in wildlife are in concordance with human epidemiological studies. The correlation of cross-species data supports a unique perspective that humans can be regarded as a sentinel for PFAS effects in other species. The health harms due to PFAS are potentially most concerning for populations of endangered and threatened species that are simultaneously exposed to PFAS and other toxic pollutants, and also face threats to their survival due to habitat loss, degradation of ecosystems, and over-harvesting. Human epidemiological studies on the PFAS doses associated with health harm present a rich source of information about potential impacts on wildlife health due to PFAS. Our analysis suggests that national and international efforts to restrict the discharges of PFAS into the environment and to clean up PFAS-contaminated sites present an opportunity to protect wildlife from chemical pollution and to advance species conservation worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Q Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Tasha Stoiber
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Alexis M Temkin
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Olga V Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
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Keller DA, Bassan A, Amberg A, Burns Naas LA, Chambers J, Cross K, Hall F, Jahnke GD, Luniwal A, Manganelli S, Mestres J, Mihalchik-Burhans AL, Woolley D, Tice RR. In silico approaches in carcinogenicity hazard assessment: case study of pregabalin, a nongenotoxic mouse carcinogen. Front Toxicol 2023; 5:1234498. [PMID: 38026843 PMCID: PMC10679394 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1234498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In silico toxicology protocols are meant to support computationally-based assessments using principles that ensure that results can be generated, recorded, communicated, archived, and then evaluated in a uniform, consistent, and reproducible manner. We investigated the availability of in silico models to predict the carcinogenic potential of pregabalin using the ten key characteristics of carcinogens as a framework for organizing mechanistic studies. Pregabalin is a single-species carcinogen producing only one type of tumor, hemangiosarcomas in mice via a nongenotoxic mechanism. The overall goal of this exercise is to test the ability of in silico models to predict nongenotoxic carcinogenicity with pregabalin as a case study. The established mode of action (MOA) of pregabalin is triggered by tissue hypoxia, leading to oxidative stress (KC5), chronic inflammation (KC6), and increased cell proliferation (KC10) of endothelial cells. Of these KCs, in silico models are available only for selected endpoints in KC5, limiting the usefulness of computational tools in prediction of pregabalin carcinogenicity. KC1 (electrophilicity), KC2 (genotoxicity), and KC8 (receptor-mediated effects), for which predictive in silico models exist, do not play a role in this mode of action. Confidence in the overall assessments is considered to be medium to high for KCs 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 (immune system effects), 8, and 10 (cell proliferation), largely due to the high-quality experimental data. In order to move away from dependence on animal data, development of reliable in silico models for prediction of oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, immunosuppression, and cell proliferation will be critical for the ability to predict nongenotoxic compound carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jordi Mestres
- Chemotargets SL, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Borgert CJ. Issue analysis: key characteristics approach for identifying endocrine disruptors. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:2819-2822. [PMID: 37572129 PMCID: PMC10474976 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03568-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
For more than a decade, weight of evidence (WoE) evaluations have been the standard method for determining whether a chemical meets the definition of an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). WoE methods consider all data pertinent to satisfying the EDC definition and evaluating those data with respect to relevance, reliability, strength, and coherence with established endocrine physiology and pharmacology. A new approach for identifying EDC hazards has been proposed that organizes and evaluates data according to ten so-called "Key Characteristics (KCs) of EDCs". The approach claims to address the lack of a widely accepted, systematic approach for identifying EDC hazards, but completely ignores the WoE literature for EDCs. In contrast to WoE methods, the KC approach fails to apply the consensus definition of EDC and is not amenable to empirical testing or validation, is fungible and ensures inconsistent and unreliable results, ignores principles of hormone action and characteristics of dose-response in endocrine pharmacology and toxicology, lacks a means of distinguishing endocrine-mediated from non-endocrine mediated mechanisms, lacks a means to reach a negative conclusion about a chemical's EDC properties or to distinguish EDCs from non-EDCs, and provides no means for developing a valid consensus among experts nor provides a means of resolving conflicting interpretations of data. Instead of shortcuts like the KC approach, which are prone to bias, error, and arbitrary conclusions, identifying EDCs should rely on WoE evaluations that supply the critical components and scientific rigor lacking in the proposed KCs for EDCs.
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11
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Turner MC, Cogliano V, Guyton K, Madia F, Straif K, Ward EM, Schubauer-Berigan MK. Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents: Impact and Lessons Learned. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:105001. [PMID: 37902675 PMCID: PMC10615125 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs program assembles expert working groups who publish a critical review and evaluation of data on agents of interest. These comprehensive reviews provide a unique opportunity to identify research needs to address classification uncertainties. A multidisciplinary expert review and workshop held in 2009 identified research gaps and needs for 20 priority occupational chemicals, metals, dusts, and physical agents, with the goal of stimulating advances in epidemiological studies of cancer and carcinogen mechanisms. Overarching issues were also described. OBJECTIVES In this commentary we review the current status of the evidence for the 20 priority agents identified in 2009. We examine whether identified Research Recommendations for each agent were addressed and their potential impact on resolving classification uncertainties. METHODS We reviewed the IARC classifications of each of the 20 priority agents and identified major new epidemiological and human mechanistic studies published since the last evaluation. Information sources were either the published Monograph for agents that have been reevaluated or, for agents not yet reevaluated, Advisory Group reports and literature searches. Findings are described in view of recent methodological developments in Monographs evidence evaluation processes. DISCUSSION The majority of the 20 priority agents were reevaluated by IARC since 2009. The overall carcinogen classifications of 9 agents advanced, and new cancer sites with either "sufficient" or "limited" evidence of carcinogenicity were also identified for 9 agents. Examination of published findings revealed whether evidence gaps and Research Recommendations have been addressed and highlighted remaining uncertainties. During the past decade, new research addressed a range of the 2009 recommendations and supported updated classifications for priority agents. This supports future efforts to systematically apply findings of Monograph reviews to identify research gaps and priorities relevant to evaluation criteria established in the updated IARC Monograph Preamble. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12547.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C. Turner
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vincent Cogliano
- California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kathryn Guyton
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Federica Madia
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Kurt Straif
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Boston College, Massachusetts, USA
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Bates CA, Haber LT, Moore MM, Schoeny R, Maier A. Development of a framework for risk assessment of dietary carcinogens. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 180:114022. [PMID: 37716495 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Although there are a number of guidance documents and frameworks for evaluation of carcinogenicity, none of the current methods fully reflects the state of the science. Common limitations include the absence of dose-response assessment and not considering the impact of differing exposure patterns (e.g., intermittent, high peaks vs. lower, continuous exposures). To address these issues, we have developed a framework for risk assessment of dietary carcinogens. This framework includes an enhanced approach for weight of evidence (WOE) evaluation for genetic toxicology data, with a focus on evaluating studies based on the most recent testing guidance to determine whether a chemical is a mutagen. Included alongside our framework is a discussion of resources for evaluating tissue dose and the temporal pattern of internal dose, taking into account the chemical's toxicokinetics. The framework then integrates the mode of action (MOA) and associated dose metric category with the exposure data to identify the appropriate approach(es) to low-dose extrapolation and level of concern associated with the exposure scenario. This framework provides risk managers with additional flexibility in risk management and risk communication options, beyond the binary choice of linear low-dose extrapolation vs. application of uncertainty factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lynne T Haber
- Risk Science Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, USA
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13
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Audebert M, Assmann AS, Azqueta A, Babica P, Benfenati E, Bortoli S, Bouwman P, Braeuning A, Burgdorf T, Coumoul X, Debizet K, Dusinska M, Ertych N, Fahrer J, Fetz V, Le Hégarat L, López de Cerain A, Heusinkveld HJ, Hogeveen K, Jacobs MN, Luijten M, Raitano G, Recoules C, Rundén-Pran E, Saleh M, Sovadinová I, Stampar M, Thibol L, Tomkiewicz C, Vettorazzi A, Van de Water B, El Yamani N, Zegura B, Oelgeschläger M. New approach methodologies to facilitate and improve the hazard assessment of non-genotoxic carcinogens-a PARC project. Front Toxicol 2023; 5:1220998. [PMID: 37492623 PMCID: PMC10364052 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1220998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinogenic chemicals, or their metabolites, can be classified as genotoxic or non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTxCs). Genotoxic compounds induce DNA damage, which can be detected by an established in vitro and in vivo battery of genotoxicity assays. For NGTxCs, DNA is not the primary target, and the possible modes of action (MoA) of NGTxCs are much more diverse than those of genotoxic compounds, and there is no specific in vitro assay for detecting NGTxCs. Therefore, the evaluation of the carcinogenic potential is still dependent on long-term studies in rodents. This 2-year bioassay, mainly applied for testing agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, is time-consuming, costly and requires very high numbers of animals. More importantly, its relevance for human risk assessment is questionable due to the limited predictivity for human cancer risk, especially with regard to NGTxCs. Thus, there is an urgent need for a transition to new approach methodologies (NAMs), integrating human-relevant in vitro assays and in silico tools that better exploit the current knowledge of the multiple processes involved in carcinogenesis into a modern safety assessment toolbox. Here, we describe an integrative project that aims to use a variety of novel approaches to detect the carcinogenic potential of NGTxCs based on different mechanisms and pathways involved in carcinogenesis. The aim of this project is to contribute suitable assays for the safety assessment toolbox for an efficient and improved, internationally recognized hazard assessment of NGTxCs, and ultimately to contribute to reliable mechanism-based next-generation risk assessment for chemical carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Audebert
- INRAE: Toxalim, INRAE, INP-ENVT, INP-EI-Purpan, Université de Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ann-Sophie Assmann
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pavel Babica
- RECETOX: RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- IRFMN: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri—IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sylvie Bortoli
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Peter Bouwman
- UL-LACDR: Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Albert Braeuning
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanja Burgdorf
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Kloé Debizet
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Maria Dusinska
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Norman Ertych
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Fahrer
- Department of Chemistry, RPTU: Division of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Verena Fetz
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ludovic Le Hégarat
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Adela López de Cerain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Harm J. Heusinkveld
- RIVM: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Kevin Hogeveen
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Miriam N. Jacobs
- Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, UKHSA: UK Health Security Agency, Chilton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- RIVM: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Giuseppa Raitano
- IRFMN: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri—IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Cynthia Recoules
- INRAE: Toxalim, INRAE, INP-ENVT, INP-EI-Purpan, Université de Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Elise Rundén-Pran
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Mariam Saleh
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Iva Sovadinová
- RECETOX: RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martina Stampar
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, NIB: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lea Thibol
- Department of Chemistry, RPTU: Division of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | | | - Ariane Vettorazzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Bob Van de Water
- UL-LACDR: Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Naouale El Yamani
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Bojana Zegura
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, NIB: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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Marchetti F, Cardoso R, Chen CL, Douglas GR, Elloway J, Escobar PA, Harper T, Heflich RH, Kidd D, Lynch AM, Myers MB, Parsons BL, Salk JJ, Settivari RS, Smith-Roe SL, Witt KL, Yauk CL, Young R, Zhang S, Minocherhomji S. Error-corrected next generation sequencing - Promises and challenges for genotoxicity and cancer risk assessment. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res 2023; 792:108466. [PMID: 37643677 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2023.108466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Error-corrected Next Generation Sequencing (ecNGS) is rapidly emerging as a valuable, highly sensitive and accurate method for detecting and characterizing mutations in any cell type, tissue or organism from which DNA can be isolated. Recent mutagenicity and carcinogenicity studies have used ecNGS to quantify drug-/chemical-induced mutations and mutational spectra associated with cancer risk. ecNGS has potential applications in genotoxicity assessment as a new readout for traditional models, for mutagenesis studies in 3D organotypic cultures, and for detecting off-target effects of gene editing tools. Additionally, early data suggest that ecNGS can measure clonal expansion of mutations as a mechanism-agnostic early marker of carcinogenic potential and can evaluate mutational load directly in human biomonitoring studies. In this review, we discuss promising applications, challenges, limitations, and key data initiatives needed to enable regulatory testing and adoption of ecNGS - including for advancing safety assessment, augmenting weight-of-evidence for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity mechanisms, identifying early biomarkers of cancer risk, and managing human health risk from chemical exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Connie L Chen
- Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
| | | | - Joanne Elloway
- Safety Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Tod Harper
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Robert H Heflich
- US Food and Drug Administration/National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Darren Kidd
- Labcorp Early Development Laboratories Limited, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK
| | | | - Meagan B Myers
- US Food and Drug Administration/National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Barbara L Parsons
- US Food and Drug Administration/National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kristine L Witt
- NIEHS, Division of the National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Robert Young
- MilliporeSigma, Rockville, MD, USA; Current: Consultant, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Sheroy Minocherhomji
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Current: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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15
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Hiatt RA, Worden L, Rehkopf D, Engmann N, Troester M, Witte JS, Balke K, Jackson C, Barlow J, Fenton SE, Gehlert S, Hammond RA, Kaplan G, Kornak J, Nishioka K, McKone T, Smith MT, Trasande L, Porco TC. A complex systems model of breast cancer etiology: The Paradigm II Model. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282878. [PMID: 37205649 PMCID: PMC10198497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex systems models of breast cancer have previously focused on prediction of prognosis and clinical events for individual women. There is a need for understanding breast cancer at the population level for public health decision-making, for identifying gaps in epidemiologic knowledge and for the education of the public as to the complexity of this most common of cancers. METHODS AND FINDINGS We developed an agent-based model of breast cancer for the women of the state of California using data from the U.S. Census, the California Health Interview Survey, the California Cancer Registry, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the literature. The model was implemented in the Julia programming language and R computing environment. The Paradigm II model development followed a transdisciplinary process with expertise from multiple relevant disciplinary experts from genetics to epidemiology and sociology with the goal of exploring both upstream determinants at the population level and pathophysiologic etiologic factors at the biologic level. The resulting model reproduces in a reasonable manner the overall age-specific incidence curve for the years 2008-2012 and incidence and relative risks due to specific risk factors such as BRCA1, polygenic risk, alcohol consumption, hormone therapy, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive use and scenarios for environmental toxin exposures. CONCLUSIONS The Paradigm II model illustrates the role of multiple etiologic factors in breast cancer from domains of biology, behavior and the environment. The value of the model is in providing a virtual laboratory to evaluate a wide range of potential interventions into the social, environmental and behavioral determinants of breast cancer at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Hiatt
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lee Worden
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - David Rehkopf
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Natalie Engmann
- Genentech, Inc. South San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Melissa Troester
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - John S. Witte
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Kaya Balke
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Christian Jackson
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Janice Barlow
- Zero Breast Cancer (retired), San Rafael, California, United States of America
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sarah Gehlert
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Ross A. Hammond
- Brown School, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George Kaplan
- University of Michigan (retired), Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - John Kornak
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Krisida Nishioka
- School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas McKone
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, (Emeritus), Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Martyn T. Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Travis C. Porco
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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16
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Chatterjee N, Alfaro-Moreno E. In Vitro Cell Transformation Assays: A Valuable Approach for Carcinogenic Potentiality Assessment of Nanomaterials. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098219. [PMID: 37175926 PMCID: PMC10178964 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This review explores the application of in vitro cell transformation assays (CTAs) as a screening platform to assess the carcinogenic potential of nanomaterials (NMs) resulting from continuously growing industrial production and use. The widespread application of NMs in various fields has raised concerns about their potential adverse effects, necessitating safety evaluations, particularly in long-term continuous exposure scenarios. CTAs present a realistic screening platform for known and emerging NMs by examining their resemblance to the hallmark of malignancy, including high proliferation rates, loss of contact inhibition, the gain of anchorage-independent growth, cellular invasion, dysregulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis resistance, and ability to form tumors in experimental animals. Through the deliberate transformation of cells via chronic NM exposure, researchers can investigate the tumorigenic properties of NMs and the underlying mechanisms of cancer development. This article examines NM-induced cell transformation studies, focusing on identifying existing knowledge gaps. Specifically, it explores the physicochemical properties of NMs, experimental models, assays, dose and time requirements for cell transformation, and the underlying mechanisms of malignancy. Our review aims to advance understanding in this field and identify areas for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivedita Chatterjee
- NanoSafety Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno
- NanoSafety Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
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17
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Desaulniers D, Cummings-Lorbetskie C, Leingartner K, Meier MJ, Pickles JC, Yauk CL. DNA methylation changes from primary cultures through senescence-bypass in Syrian hamster fetal cells initially exposed to benzo[a]pyrene. Toxicology 2023; 487:153451. [PMID: 36754249 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Current chemical testing strategies are limited in their ability to detect non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTxC). Epigenetic anomalies develop during carcinogenesis regardless of whether the molecular initiating event is associated with genotoxic (GTxC) or NGTxC events; therefore, epigenetic markers may be harnessed to develop new approach methodologies that improve the detection of both types of carcinogens. This study used Syrian hamster fetal cells to establish the chronology of carcinogen-induced DNA methylation changes from primary cells until senescence-bypass as an essential carcinogenic step. Cells exposed to solvent control for 7 days were compared to naïve primary cultures, to cells exposed for 7 days to benzo[a]pyrene, and to cells at the subsequent transformation stages: normal colonies, morphologically transformed colonies, senescence, senescence-bypass, and sustained proliferation in vitro. DNA methylation changes identified by reduced representation bisulphite sequencing were minimal at day-7. Profound DNA methylation changes arose during cellular senescence and some of these early differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were preserved through the final sustained proliferation stage. A set of these DMRs (e.g., Pou4f1, Aifm3, B3galnt2, Bhlhe22, Gja8, Klf17, and L1l) were validated by pyrosequencing and their reproducibility was confirmed across multiple clones obtained from a different laboratory. These DNA methylation changes could serve as biomarkers to enhance objectivity and mechanistic understanding of cell transformation and could be used to predict senescence-bypass and chemical carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Desaulniers
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | | | - Karen Leingartner
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Matthew J Meier
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | | | - Carole L Yauk
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
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18
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Hinchliffe A, Alguacil J, Bijoux W, Kogevinas M, Menegaux F, Parent ME, Pérez Gomez B, Uuksulainen S, Turner MC. Occupational heat exposure and prostate cancer risk: A pooled analysis of case-control studies. Environ Res 2023; 216:114592. [PMID: 36272590 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heat exposures occur in many occupations. Heat has been linked to key carcinogenic processes, however, evidence for associations with cancer risk is sparse. We examined potential associations between occupational heat exposure and prostate cancer risk in a multi-country study. METHODS We analysed a large, pooled dataset of 3142 histologically confirmed prostate cancer cases and 3512 frequency-matched controls from three countries: Canada, France, and Spain. Three exposure indices: ever exposure, lifetime cumulative exposure and duration of exposure, were developed using the Finnish Job-Exposure Matrix, FINJEM, applied to the lifetime occupational history of participants. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using conditional logistic regression models stratified by 5-year age groups and study, adjusting for potential confounders. Potential interactions with exposure to other occupational agents were also explored. RESULTS Overall, we found no association for ever occupational heat exposure (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.87, 1.09), nor in the highest categories of lifetime cumulative exposure (OR 1.04; 95% CI 0.89, 1.23) or duration (OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.88, 1.22). When using only the Spanish case-control study and a Spanish Job Exposure Matrix (JEM), some weakly elevated ORs were observed. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study provide no clear evidence for an association between occupational heat exposure and prostate cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Hinchliffe
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Alguacil
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública - CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales, Salud y Medio Ambiente (RENSMA), Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Wendy Bijoux
- Paris-Saclay University, UVSQ, Gustave Roussy, Inserm, CESP, Team "Exposome and Heredity", 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública - CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; IMIM (Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute), Carrer Del Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Florence Menegaux
- Paris-Saclay University, UVSQ, Gustave Roussy, Inserm, CESP, Team "Exposome and Heredity", 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Marie-Elise Parent
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de La Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Quebec, H7V 1B7, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3N 1X9, Canada; University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Beatriz Pérez Gomez
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública - CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Department of Epidemiology for Chronic Diseases, National Center of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Michelle C Turner
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública - CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
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19
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Sequeira I, Pires MDA, Leitão J, Henriques J, Viegas C, Requicha J. Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Critical Review of Etiologic Factors. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100558. [PMID: 36288171 PMCID: PMC9609408 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is the most common oral neoplasia in cats. This malignant tumor is locally invasive, has a high mortality rate, and its etiology is not yet known. A critical review about the potential etiologic factors of FOSCC was performed, considering publications between 2000 and 2022. The initial search resulted in 553 publications, with only 26 of these being included in the review. Sixteen studies were related to viral etiology and nine related to environmental factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, ectoparasitic products, and the presence of oral comorbidities. When evaluated, feline papillomavirus was detected in 16.2% of samples of FOSCC. In the three studies focused on exposure to tobacco smoke, 35.2% (30/85) of cats with FOSCC had a history of this exposure. Among 485 cats with FOSCC, 6.4% had dental and oral pathology. The present study demonstrates that the available evidence on the etiology of FOSCC is still limited, however, there has been increasing interest in this topic. Abstract Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is the most common oral neoplasia in cats. This malignant tumor is locally invasive, has a high mortality rate, and its etiology is not yet known. In humans, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tobacco smoke, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus infection. Herein, a critical review about the potential etiologic factors of FOSCC was performed, considering publications between 2000 and 2022, aiming to synthesize all available scientific evidence regarding this issue. Recommendations of the PRISMA statement and the Cochrane Collaboration were followed and the PubMed database searched by using the MeSH terms MeSH terms “oral”, “mouth”, “lingual”, “labial”, “gingiva”, “carcinoma”, “squamous”, and “feline”. The selection process for eligible studies was based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and the quality of the studies assessed. The initial search resulted in 553 publications, with only 26 of these being included in the review. Sixteen studies were related to viral etiology and nine related to environmental factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, ectoparasitic products, and the presence of oral comorbidities. When evaluated, feline papillomavirus was detected in 16.2% of samples of FOSCC. In the three studies focused on exposure to tobacco smoke, 35.2% (30/85) of cats with FOSCC had a history of this exposure. The consumption of canned food and the use of deworming collars were associated, in only one publication, with a risk of neoplasia increased by 4.7 and 5.3 times, respectively. Among 485 cats with FOSCC, 6.4% had dental and oral pathology (i.e., periodontal disease or feline chronic gingivostomatitis). The present study demonstrates that the available evidence on the etiology of FOSCC is still limited, however, there has been an increasing interest on this topic. To better understand the role of the possible etiological factors of this aggressive disease, and model for its human counterpart, large, prospective multi-institutional studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Sequeira
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria dos Anjos Pires
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - José Leitão
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Henriques
- Oncology Service, Centre Hospitalière Vétérinaire Frégis, 94110 Arcueil, France
| | - Carlos Viegas
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - João Requicha
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-967-793-272
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20
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Rusyn I, Chiu WA, Wright FA. Model systems and organisms for addressing inter- and intra-species variability in risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 132:105197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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21
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Cai J, Liu Y, Li Q, Wen Z, Li Y, Chen X. Ceramide synthase 3 affects invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via the SMAD6 gene. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2022; 47:588-599. [PMID: 35753729 PMCID: PMC10929919 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2022.210477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have poor prognosis due to lack of early diagnosis and effective treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular mechanisms associated with HCC and to identify effective targets for early diagnosis and treatment. This study is to explore the expression and biological role of ceramide synthase 3 (CerS3) in HCC. METHODS A total of 159 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained from the patients underwent radical resection in Shenzhen People's Hospital, and the total RNA and proteins from HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained. The expression of CerS3 protein and mRNA in HCC was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time PCR. In vitro experiments, Hep3B cells were divided into a control vector group and a CerS3 vector group, and the cells were transfected with retroviral vector containing control cDNA or CerS3 cDNA, respectively. HCCLM3 cells were divided into a normal control shRNA group and a CerS3 shRNA group, and the cells were transfected with lentiviral vectors containing normal control shRNA or CerS3 shRNA, respectively. MTT, EdU, Transwell and scratch method were used to detect cell proliferation, migration and invasion. RNA sequencing was performed to determine the downstream signal of CerS3. RESULTS Compared with the corresponding adjacent tissues,the mRNA and protein levels of CerS3 were elevated in the HCC tissues, with significant difference (both P<0.05). The Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the overall survival rate was significantly correlated with the presence of venous invasion (95% CI 1.8-9.2, P<0.01), TNM stage (95% CI 2.3-5.2, P<0.05), poor histological grade (95% CI 1.4-6.8, P<0.05), and CerS3 (95% CI 1.5-3.9, P<0.05). Furthermore, the high CerS3 expression levels in tumor tissues were significantly associated with shorter overall survival rates compared with the low CerS3 expression (P<0.05). Compared with the vector control group, the Hep3B cell viability, EdU positive cells, and migration and invasion cell numbers in the CerS3 vector group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the shRNA normal control group, the HCCLM3 cell viability, EdU positive cells, and numbers of migrating and invasive cells in the CerS3 shRNA group were significantly lower (all P<0.05). The RNA sequencing confirmed that the small mothers against decapentaplegic family member 6 (SMAD6) gene as an oncogenic gene could promote the HCC metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Clinically, the overexpression of CerS3 is closely related to poor clinical features and poor prognosis. Functionally, CerS3 participates in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells via activating SMAD6 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhong Cai
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China.
| | - Yuqi Liu
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Qiyang Li
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Zhenchao Wen
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Xianxian Chen
- Department of Intervention, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
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22
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Crofton KM, Bassan A, Behl M, Chushak YG, Fritsche E, Gearhart JM, Marty MS, Mumtaz M, Pavan M, Ruiz P, Sachana M, Selvam R, Shafer TJ, Stavitskaya L, Szabo DT, Szabo ST, Tice RR, Wilson D, Woolley D, Myatt GJ. Current status and future directions for a neurotoxicity hazard assessment framework that integrates in silico approaches. Comput Toxicol 2022; 22:100223. [PMID: 35844258 PMCID: PMC9281386 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurotoxicology is the study of adverse effects on the structure or function of the developing or mature adult nervous system following exposure to chemical, biological, or physical agents. The development of more informative alternative methods to assess developmental (DNT) and adult (NT) neurotoxicity induced by xenobiotics is critically needed. The use of such alternative methods including in silico approaches that predict DNT or NT from chemical structure (e.g., statistical-based and expert rule-based systems) is ideally based on a comprehensive understanding of the relevant biological mechanisms. This paper discusses known mechanisms alongside the current state of the art in DNT/NT testing. In silico approaches available today that support the assessment of neurotoxicity based on knowledge of chemical structure are reviewed, and a conceptual framework for the integration of in silico methods with experimental information is presented. Establishing this framework is essential for the development of protocols, namely standardized approaches, to ensure that assessments of NT and DNT based on chemical structures are generated in a transparent, consistent, and defendable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Mamta Behl
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National
Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yaroslav G. Chushak
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental
Medicine & Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf,
Germany
| | - Jeffery M. Gearhart
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | | | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment
Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), 75775
Paris Cedex 16, France
| | - Rajamani Selvam
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Timothy J. Shafer
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center
for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC,
USA
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dan Wilson
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48667, USA
| | | | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Corresponding author.
(G.J. Myatt)
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Naidenko OV. Evidence Base on the Potential Carcinogenicity of Radiofrequency Radiation. JAMA Oncol 2022; 8:1. [PMID: 35446371 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.0925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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24
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Ramaprasad ASE, Smith MT, McCoy D, Hubbard AE, La Merrill MA, Durkin KA. Predicting the binding of small molecules to nuclear receptors using machine learning. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6563938. [PMID: 35383362 PMCID: PMC9116378 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are important biological targets of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Identifying chemicals that can act as EDCs and modulate the function of NRs is difficult because of the time and cost of in vitro and in vivo screening to determine the potential hazards of the 100 000s of chemicals that humans are exposed to. Hence, there is a need for computational approaches to prioritize chemicals for biological testing. Machine learning (ML) techniques are alternative methods that can quickly screen millions of chemicals and identify those that may be an EDC. Computational models of chemical binding to multiple NRs have begun to emerge. Recently, a Nuclear Receptor Activity (NuRA) dataset, describing experimentally derived small-molecule activity against various NRs has been created. We have used the NuRA dataset to develop an ensemble of ML-based models to predict the agonism, antagonism, binding and effector binding of small molecules to nine different human NRs. We defined the applicability domain of the ML models as a measure of Tanimoto similarity to the molecules in the training set, which enhanced the performance of the developed classifiers. We further developed a user-friendly web server named 'NR-ToxPred' to predict the binding of chemicals to the nine NRs using the best-performing models for each receptor. This web server is freely accessible at http://nr-toxpred.cchem.berkeley.edu. Users can upload individual chemicals using Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System, CAS numbers or sketch the molecule in the provided space to predict the compound's activity against the different NRs and predict the binding mode for each.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martyn T Smith
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David McCoy
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Alan E Hubbard
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kathleen A Durkin
- Molecular Graphics and Computation Facility, College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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25
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Amolegbe SM, Carlin DJ, Henry HF, Heacock ML, Trottier BA, Suk WA. Understanding exposures and latent disease risk within the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:529-537. [PMID: 35253496 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221079620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the health effects of exposures when there is a lag between exposure and the onset of disease is an important and challenging topic in environmental health research. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Basic Research and Training Program (SRP) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program that uses a multidisciplinary approach to support biomedical and environmental science and engineering research. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the program, SRP grantees are well-positioned to study exposure and latent disease risk across humans, animal models, and various life stages. SRP-funded scientists are working to address the challenge of connecting exposures that occur early in life and prior to conception with diseases that manifest much later, including developing new tools and approaches to predict how chemicals may affect long-term health. Here, we highlight research from the SRP focused on understanding the health effects of exposures with a lag between exposure and the onset of the disease as well as provide future directions for addressing knowledge gaps for this highly complex and challenging topic. Advancing the knowledge of latency to disease will require a multidisciplinary approach to research, the need for data sharing and integration, and new tools and computation approaches to make better predications about the timing of disease onset. A better understanding of exposures that may contribute to later-life diseases is essential to supporting the implementation of prevention and intervention strategies to reduce or modulate exposures to reduce disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Amolegbe
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
| | - Danielle J Carlin
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
| | - Heather F Henry
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
| | - Michelle L Heacock
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
| | - Brittany A Trottier
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
| | - William A Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27560, USA
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26
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Felter SP, Bhat VS, Botham PA, Bussard DA, Casey W, Hayes AW, Hilton GM, Magurany KA, Sauer UG, Ohanian EV. Assessing chemical carcinogenicity: hazard identification, classification, and risk assessment. Insight from a Toxicology Forum state-of-the-science workshop. Crit Rev Toxicol 2022; 51:653-694. [DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.2003295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David A. Bussard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Warren Casey
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - A. Wallace Hayes
- University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gina M. Hilton
- PETA Science Consortium International e.V., Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | - Edward V. Ohanian
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC, USA
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27
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Goodman S, Chappell G, Guyton KZ, Pogribny IP, Rusyn I. Epigenetic alterations induced by genotoxic occupational and environmental human chemical carcinogens: An update of a systematic literature review. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res 2022; 789:108408. [PMID: 35690411 PMCID: PMC9188653 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2021.108408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations, such as changes in DNA methylation, histones/chromatin structure, nucleosome positioning, and expression of non-coding RNAs, are recognized among key characteristics of carcinogens; they may occur independently or concomitantly with genotoxic effects. While data on genotoxicity are collected through standardized guideline tests, data collected on epigenetic effects is far less uniform. In 2016, we conducted a systematic review of published studies of genotoxic carcinogens that reported epigenetic endpoints to better understand the evidence for epigenetic alterations of human carcinogens, and the potential association with genotoxic endpoints. Since then, the number of studies of epigenetic effects of chemicals has nearly doubled. This review stands as an update on epigenetic alterations induced by occupational and environmental human carcinogens that were previously and recently classified as Group 1 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We found that the evidence of epigenetic effects remains uneven across agents. Studies of DNA methylation are most abundant, while reports concerning effects on non-coding RNA have increased over the past 5 years. By contrast, mechanistic toxicology studies of histone modifications and chromatin state alterations remain few. We found that most publications of epigenetic effects of carcinogens were studies in exposed humans or human cells. Studies in rodents represent the second most common species used for epigenetic studies in toxicology, in vivo exposures being the most predominant. Future studies should incorporate dose- and time-dependent study designs and also investigate the persistence of effects following cessation of exposure, considering the dynamic nature of most epigenetic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Goodman
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Igor P Pogribny
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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28
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van der Laan L, Cardenas A, Vermeulen R, Fadadu RP, Hubbard AE, Phillips RV, Zhang L, Breeze C, Hu W, Wen C, Huang Y, Tang X, Smith MT, Rothman N, Lan Q. Epigenetic aging biomarkers and occupational exposure to benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. Environ Int 2022; 158:106871. [PMID: 34560324 PMCID: PMC9084243 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic aging biomarkers are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated if occupational exposure to three established chemical carcinogens is associated with acceleration of epigenetic aging. We studied workers in China occupationally exposed to benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE) or formaldehyde by measuring personal air exposures prior to blood collection. Unexposed controls matched by age and sex were selected from nearby factories. We measured leukocyte DNA methylation (DNAm) in peripheral white blood cells using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip to calculate five epigenetic aging clocks and DNAmTL, a biomarker associated with leukocyte telomere length and cell replication. We tested associations between exposure intensity and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), defined as the residuals of regressing the DNAm aging biomarker on chronological age, matching factors and potential confounders. Median differences in EAA between exposure groups were tested using a permutation test with exact p-values. Epigenetic clocks were strongly correlated with age (Spearman r > 0.8) in all three occupational studies. There was a positive exposure-response relationship between benzene and the Skin-Blood Clock EAA biomarker: median EAA was -0.91 years in controls (n = 44), 0.78 years in workers exposed to <10 ppm (n = 41; mean benzene = 1.35 ppm; p = 0.034 vs. controls), and 2.10 years in workers exposed to ≥10 ppm (n = 9; mean benzene = 27.3 ppm; p = 0.019 vs. controls; ptrend = 0.0021). In the TCE study, control workers had a median Skin-Blood Clock EAA of -0.54 years (n = 71) compared to 1.63 years among workers exposed to <10 ppm of TCE (n = 27; mean TCE = 4.22 ppm; p = 0.035). We observed no evidence of EAA associations with formaldehyde exposure (39 controls, 31 exposed). Occupational benzene and TCE exposure were associated with increased epigenetic age acceleration measured by the Skin-Blood Clock. For TCE, there was some evidence of epigenetic age acceleration for lower exposures compared to controls. Our results suggest that some chemical carcinogens may accelerate epigenetic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars van der Laan
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 108 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, Utrecht, 3584CM, Netherlands
| | - Raj P Fadadu
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Alan E Hubbard
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 108 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rachael V Phillips
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 108 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Luoping Zhang
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Charles Breeze
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Wei Hu
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Cuiju Wen
- Guangdong Poison Control Center, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Xiaojiang Tang
- Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center, Foshan 528248, Guangdong, China
| | - Martyn T Smith
- Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Nathaniel Rothman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Qing Lan
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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29
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Blake C, Flaws JA. Using semantics to scale up evidence-based chemical risk-assessments. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260712. [PMID: 34910747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The manual processes used for risk assessments are not scaling to the amount of data available. Although automated approaches appear promising, they must be transparent in a public policy setting. OBJECTIVE Our goal is to create an automated approach that moves beyond retrieval to the extraction step of the information synthesis process, where evidence is characterized as supporting, refuting, or neutral with respect to a given outcome. METHODS We combine knowledge resources and natural language processing to resolve coordinated ellipses and thus avoid surface level differences between concepts in an ontology and outcomes in an abstract. As with a systematic review, the search criterion, and inclusion and exclusion criterion are explicit. RESULTS The system scales to 482K abstracts on 27 chemicals. Results for three endpoints that are critical for cancer risk assessments show that refuting evidence (where the outcome decreased) was higher for cell proliferation (45.9%), and general cell changes (37.7%) than for cell death (25.0%). Moreover, cell death was the only end point where supporting claims were the majority (61.3%). If the number of abstracts that measure an outcome was used as a proxy for association there would be a stronger association with cell proliferation than cell death (20/27 chemicals). However, if the amount of supporting evidence was used (where the outcome increased) the conclusion would change for 21/27 chemicals (20 from proliferation to death and 1 from death to proliferation). CONCLUSIONS We provide decision makers with a visual representation of supporting, neutral, and refuting evidence whilst maintaining the reproducibility and transparency needed for public policy. Our findings show that results from the retrieval step where the number of abstracts that measure an outcome are reported can be misleading if not accompanied with results from the extraction step where the directionality of the outcome is established.
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Bassan A, Alves VM, Amberg A, Anger LT, Beilke L, Bender A, Bernal A, Cronin MT, Hsieh JH, Johnson C, Kemper R, Mumtaz M, Neilson L, Pavan M, Pointon A, Pletz J, Ruiz P, Russo DP, Sabnis Y, Sandhu R, Schaefer M, Stavitskaya L, Szabo DT, Valentin JP, Woolley D, Zwickl C, Myatt GJ. In silico approaches in organ toxicity hazard assessment: Current status and future needs for predicting heart, kidney and lung toxicities. Comput Toxicol 2021; 20:100188. [PMID: 35721273 PMCID: PMC9205464 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The kidneys, heart and lungs are vital organ systems evaluated as part of acute or chronic toxicity assessments. New methodologies are being developed to predict these adverse effects based on in vitro and in silico approaches. This paper reviews the current state of the art in predicting these organ toxicities. It outlines the biological basis, processes and endpoints for kidney toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, respiratory irritation and sensitization as well as functional and structural cardiac toxicities. The review also covers current experimental approaches, including off-target panels from secondary pharmacology batteries. Current in silico approaches for prediction of these effects and mechanisms are described as well as obstacles to the use of in silico methods. Ultimately, a commonly accepted protocol for performing such assessment would be a valuable resource to expand the use of such approaches across different regulatory and industrial applications. However, a number of factors impede their widespread deployment including a lack of a comprehensive mechanistic understanding, limited in vitro testing approaches and limited in vivo databases suitable for modeling, a limited understanding of how to incorporate absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) considerations into the overall process, a lack of in silico models designed to predict a safe dose and an accepted framework for organizing the key characteristics of these organ toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Vinicius M. Alves
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Alexander Amberg
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lennart T. Anger
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
| | - Lisa Beilke
- Toxicology Solutions Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andreas Bender
- AI and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United States
| | | | - Mark T.D. Cronin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Jui-Hua Hsieh
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | | | - Raymond Kemper
- Nuvalent, One Broadway, 14th floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States
| | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Louise Neilson
- Broughton Nicotine Services, Oak Tree House, West Craven Drive, Earby, Lancashire BB18 6JZ UK
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Amy Pointon
- Functional and Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julia Pletz
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Daniel P. Russo
- The Rutgers Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Camden, NJ 08102, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, United States
| | - Yogesh Sabnis
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
| | - Reena Sandhu
- SafeDose Ltd., 20 Dundas Street West, Suite 921, Toronto, Ontario M5G2H1, Canada
| | - Markus Schaefer
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | | | - David Woolley
- ForthTox Limited, PO Box 13550, Linlithgow, EH49 7YU, UK
| | - Craig Zwickl
- Transendix LLC, 1407 Moores Manor, Indianapolis, IN 46229, United States
| | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, 1393 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215, United States
- Corresponding author: (G.J. Myatt)
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Barupal DK, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Korenjak M, Zavadil J, Guyton KZ. Prioritizing cancer hazard assessments for IARC Monographs using an integrated approach of database fusion and text mining. Environ Int 2021; 156:106624. [PMID: 33984576 PMCID: PMC8380673 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systematic evaluation of literature data on the cancer hazards of human exposures is an essential process underlying cancer prevention strategies. The scope and volume of evidence for suspected carcinogens can range from very few to thousands of publications, requiring a complex, systematically planned, and critical procedure to nominate, prioritize and evaluate carcinogenic agents. To aid in this process, database fusion, cheminformatics and text mining techniques can be combined into an integrated approach to inform agent prioritization, selection, and grouping. RESULTS We have applied these techniques to agents recommended for the IARC Monographs evaluations during 2020-2024. An integration of PubMed filters to cover cancer epidemiology, key characteristics of carcinogens, chemical lists from 34 databases relevant for cancer research, chemical structure grouping and a literature data-based clustering was applied in an innovative approach to 119 agents recommended by an advisory group for future IARC Monographs evaluations. The approach also facilitated a rational grouping of these agents and aids in understanding the volume and complexity of relevant information, as well as important gaps in coverage of the available studies on cancer etiology and carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION A new data-science approach has been applied to diverse agents recommended for cancer hazard assessments, and its applications for the IARC Monographs are demonstrated. The prioritization approach has been made available at www.cancer.idsl.me site for ranking cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Kumar Barupal
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai, NY, USA.
| | - Mary K Schubauer-Berigan
- Evidence Synthesis and Classification Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Michael Korenjak
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Jiri Zavadil
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Kathryn Z Guyton
- Evidence Synthesis and Classification Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
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32
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Tice RR, Bassan A, Amberg A, Anger LT, Beal MA, Bellion P, Benigni R, Birmingham J, Brigo A, Bringezu F, Ceriani L, Crooks I, Cross K, Elespuru R, Faulkner DM, Fortin MC, Fowler P, Frericks M, Gerets HHJ, Jahnke GD, Jones DR, Kruhlak NL, Lo Piparo E, Lopez-Belmonte J, Luniwal A, Luu A, Madia F, Manganelli S, Manickam B, Mestres J, Mihalchik-Burhans AL, Neilson L, Pandiri A, Pavan M, Rider CV, Rooney JP, Trejo-Martin A, Watanabe-Sailor KH, White AT, Woolley D, Myatt GJ. In Silico Approaches In Carcinogenicity Hazard Assessment: Current Status and Future Needs. Comput Toxicol 2021; 20. [PMID: 35368437 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Historically, identifying carcinogens has relied primarily on tumor studies in rodents, which require enormous resources in both money and time. In silico models have been developed for predicting rodent carcinogens but have not yet found general regulatory acceptance, in part due to the lack of a generally accepted protocol for performing such an assessment as well as limitations in predictive performance and scope. There remains a need for additional, improved in silico carcinogenicity models, especially ones that are more human-relevant, for use in research and regulatory decision-making. As part of an international effort to develop in silico toxicological protocols, a consortium of toxicologists, computational scientists, and regulatory scientists across several industries and governmental agencies evaluated the extent to which in silico models exist for each of the recently defined 10 key characteristics (KCs) of carcinogens. This position paper summarizes the current status of in silico tools for the assessment of each KC and identifies the data gaps that need to be addressed before a comprehensive in silico carcinogenicity protocol can be developed for regulatory use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond R Tice
- RTice Consulting, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278, USA
| | | | - Alexander Amberg
- Sanofi Preclinical Safety, Industriepark Höchst, 65926 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lennart T Anger
- Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, 94080, USA
| | - Marc A Beal
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Government of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Birmingham
- GlaxoSmithKline, David Jack Centre for R&D, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0DP, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Brigo
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation, Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Lidia Ceriani
- Humane Society International, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ian Crooks
- British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd, GR&D Centre, Southampton, SO15 8TL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rosalie Elespuru
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20993, USA
| | - David M Faulkner
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Marie C Fortin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08855, USA
| | - Paul Fowler
- FSTox Consulting (Genetic Toxicology), Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Gloria D Jahnke
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | | | - Naomi L Kruhlak
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20993, USA
| | - Elena Lo Piparo
- Chemical Food Safety Group, Nestlé Research, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland
| | - Juan Lopez-Belmonte
- Cuts Ice Ltd Chemical Food Safety Group, Nestlé Research, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland
| | - Amarjit Luniwal
- North American Science Associates (NAMSA) Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55426, USA
| | - Alice Luu
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Government of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
| | - Federica Madia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Serena Manganelli
- Chemical Food Safety Group, Nestlé Research, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland
| | | | - Jordi Mestres
- IMIM Institut Hospital Del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; and Chemotargets SL, Baldiri Reixac 4, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Louise Neilson
- Broughton Nicotine Services, Oak Tree House, Earby, Lancashire, BB18 6JZ United Kingdom
| | - Arun Pandiri
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | | | - Cynthia V Rider
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - John P Rooney
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC., Morrisville, North Carolina, 27560, USA
| | | | - Karen H Watanabe-Sailor
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, West Campus, Glendale, Arizona, 85306, USA
| | - Angela T White
- GlaxoSmithKline, David Jack Centre for R&D, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0DP, United Kingdom
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Desaulniers D, Vasseur P, Jacobs A, Aguila MC, Ertych N, Jacobs MN. Integration of Epigenetic Mechanisms into Non-Genotoxic Carcinogenicity Hazard Assessment: Focus on DNA Methylation and Histone Modifications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10969. [PMID: 34681626 PMCID: PMC8535778 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics involves a series of mechanisms that entail histone and DNA covalent modifications and non-coding RNAs, and that collectively contribute to programing cell functions and differentiation. Epigenetic anomalies and DNA mutations are co-drivers of cellular dysfunctions, including carcinogenesis. Alterations of the epigenetic system occur in cancers whether the initial carcinogenic events are from genotoxic (GTxC) or non-genotoxic (NGTxC) carcinogens. NGTxC are not inherently DNA reactive, they do not have a unifying mode of action and as yet there are no regulatory test guidelines addressing mechanisms of NGTxC. To fil this gap, the Test Guideline Programme of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is developing a framework for an integrated approach for the testing and assessment (IATA) of NGTxC and is considering assays that address key events of cancer hallmarks. Here, with the intent of better understanding the applicability of epigenetic assays in chemical carcinogenicity assessment, we focus on DNA methylation and histone modifications and review: (1) epigenetic mechanisms contributing to carcinogenesis, (2) epigenetic mechanisms altered following exposure to arsenic, nickel, or phenobarbital in order to identify common carcinogen-specific mechanisms, (3) characteristics of a series of epigenetic assay types, and (4) epigenetic assay validation needs in the context of chemical hazard assessment. As a key component of numerous NGTxC mechanisms of action, epigenetic assays included in IATA assay combinations can contribute to improved chemical carcinogen identification for the better protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Desaulniers
- Environmental Health Sciences and Research Bureau, Hazard Identification Division, Health Canada, AL:2203B, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Paule Vasseur
- CNRS, LIEC, Université de Lorraine, 57070 Metz, France;
| | - Abigail Jacobs
- Independent at the Time of Publication, Previously US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20852, USA;
| | - M. Cecilia Aguila
- Toxicology Team, Division of Human Food Safety, Center for Veterinary Medicine, US Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD 20852, USA;
| | - Norman Ertych
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Miriam N. Jacobs
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK;
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Goodrich JM, Calkins MM, Caban-Martinez AJ, Stueckle T, Grant C, Calafat AM, Nematollahi A, Jung AM, Graber JM, Jenkins T, Slitt AL, Dewald A, Botelho JC, Beitel S, Littau S, Gulotta J, Wallentine D, Hughes J, Popp C, Burgess JL. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, epigenetic age and DNA methylation: a cross-sectional study of firefighters. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1619-1636. [PMID: 34670402 PMCID: PMC8549684 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent chemicals that firefighters encounter. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, could serve as PFASs toxicity biomarkers. Methods: With a sample size of 197 firefighters, we quantified the serum concentrations of nine PFASs, blood leukocyte DNA methylation and epigenetic age indicators via the EPIC array. We examined the associations between PFASs with epigenetic age, site- and region-specific DNA methylation, adjusting for confounders. Results: Perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and the sum of branched isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonate (Sm-PFOS) were associated with accelerated epigenetic age. Branched PFOA, linear PFOS, perfluorononanoate, perfluorodecanoate and perfluoroundecanoate were associated with differentially methylated loci and regions. Conclusion: PFASs concentrations are associated with accelerated epigenetic age and locus-specific DNA methylation. The implications for PFASs toxicity merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Miriam M Calkins
- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
| | - Alberto J Caban-Martinez
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Todd Stueckle
- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Casey Grant
- Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA 02169, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Amy Nematollahi
- Department of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Alesia M Jung
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Judith M Graber
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Timothy Jenkins
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Angela L Slitt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Alisa Dewald
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Shawn Beitel
- Department of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Sally Littau
- Department of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | | | | | - Jeff Hughes
- Orange County Fire Authority, Irvine, CA 92602, USA
| | | | - Jefferey L Burgess
- Department of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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Lind L, Araujo JA, Barchowsky A, Belcher S, Berridge BR, Chiamvimonvat N, Chiu WA, Cogliano VJ, Elmore S, Farraj AK, Gomes AV, McHale CM, Meyer-Tamaki KB, Posnack NG, Vargas HM, Yang X, Zeise L, Zhou C, Smith MT. Key Characteristics of Cardiovascular Toxicants. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:95001. [PMID: 34558968 PMCID: PMC8462506 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of chemical agents having properties that confer potential hazard called key characteristics (KCs) was first developed to identify carcinogenic hazards. Identification of KCs of cardiovascular (CV) toxicants could facilitate the systematic assessment of CV hazards and understanding of assay and data gaps associated with current approaches. OBJECTIVES We sought to develop a consensus-based synthesis of scientific evidence on the KCs of chemical and nonchemical agents known to cause CV toxicity along with methods to measure them. METHODS An expert working group was convened to discuss mechanisms associated with CV toxicity. RESULTS The group identified 12 KCs of CV toxicants, defined as exogenous agents that adversely interfere with function of the CV system. The KCs were organized into those primarily affecting cardiac tissue (numbers 1-4 below), the vascular system (5-7), or both (8-12), as follows: 1) impairs regulation of cardiac excitability, 2) impairs cardiac contractility and relaxation, 3) induces cardiomyocyte injury and death, 4) induces proliferation of valve stroma, 5) impacts endothelial and vascular function, 6) alters hemostasis, 7) causes dyslipidemia, 8) impairs mitochondrial function, 9) modifies autonomic nervous system activity, 10) induces oxidative stress, 11) causes inflammation, and 12) alters hormone signaling. DISCUSSION These 12 KCs can be used to help identify pharmaceuticals and environmental pollutants as CV toxicants, as well as to better understand the mechanistic underpinnings of their toxicity. For example, evidence exists that fine particulate matter [PM ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] air pollution, arsenic, anthracycline drugs, and other exogenous chemicals possess one or more of the described KCs. In conclusion, the KCs could be used to identify potential CV toxicants and to define a set of test methods to evaluate CV toxicity in a more comprehensive and standardized manner than current approaches. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9321.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Epidemiology, University of Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jesus A. Araujo
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health and Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aaron Barchowsky
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian R. Berridge
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nipavan Chiamvimonvat
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Vincent J. Cogliano
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oakland, California, USA
| | - Sarah Elmore
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oakland, California, USA
| | - Aimen K. Farraj
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aldrin V. Gomes
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Cliona M. McHale
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Nikki Gillum Posnack
- Children’s National Heart Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hugo M. Vargas
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Xi Yang
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Office of Cardiology, Hematology, Endocrinology, and Nephrology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Lauren Zeise
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oakland, California, USA
| | - Changcheng Zhou
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Martyn T. Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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36
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Madia F, Pillo G, Worth A, Corvi R, Prieto P. Integration of data across toxicity endpoints for improved safety assessment of chemicals: the example of carcinogenicity assessment. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:1971-1993. [PMID: 33830278 PMCID: PMC8166685 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03035-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In view of the need to enhance the assessment of consumer products called for in the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, we developed a methodology for evaluating hazard by combining information across different systemic toxicity endpoints and integrating the information with new approach methodologies. This integrates mechanistic information with a view to avoiding redundant in vivo studies, minimising reliance on apical endpoint tests and ultimately devising efficient testing strategies. Here, we present the application of our methodology to carcinogenicity assessment, mapping the available information from toxicity test methods across endpoints to the key characteristics of carcinogens. Test methods are deconstructed to allow the information they provide to be organised in a systematic way, enabling the description of the toxicity mechanisms leading to the adverse outcome. This integrated approach provides a flexible and resource-efficient means of fully exploiting test methods for which test guidelines are available to fulfil regulatory requirements for systemic toxicity assessment as well as identifying where new methods can be integrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Madia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy.
| | - Gelsomina Pillo
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Andrew Worth
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Raffaella Corvi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Pilar Prieto
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
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Abstract
Introduction: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that alter the actions of hormones. In the 21st Century, numerous expert groups of clinicians, scientists, and environmental activists have called for action to protect present and future generations from the harm induced by EDC exposures. These demands for regulatory responses come because of the strong weight of the evidence from epidemiology, wildlife, and controlled laboratory studies.Areas covered: In this review, we examine the conclusions drawn by experts from different scientific and medical disciplines. We also address several areas where recent findings or work has changed the landscape of EDC work including new approaches to identify and evaluate the evidence for EDCs using a key characteristics approach, the need to expand our understanding of vulnerable periods of development, and the increasing concern that traditional methods used to evaluate toxicity of environmental chemicals are insufficient for EDCs and how collaborative science could help to address these gaps.Expert opinion: The science is clear: there is more than enough evidence to demonstrate that EDCs affect the health of humans and wildlife. Waiting to act is a decision that puts the health of current and future generations at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Vandenberg
- School of Public Health & Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA USA
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Walmsley SJ, Guo J, Murugan P, Weight CJ, Wang J, Villalta PW, Turesky RJ. Comprehensive Analysis of DNA Adducts Using Data-Independent wSIM/MS 2 Acquisition and wSIM-City. Anal Chem 2021; 93:6491-6500. [PMID: 33844920 PMCID: PMC8675643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A novel software has been created to comprehensively characterize covalent modifications of DNA through mass spectral analysis of enzymatically hydrolyzed DNA using the neutral loss of 2'-deoxyribose, a nearly universal MS2 fragmentation process of protonated 2'-deoxyribonucleosides. These covalent modifications termed DNA adducts form through xenobiotic exposures or by reaction with endogenous electrophiles and can induce mutations during cell division and initiate carcinogenesis. DNA adducts are typically present at trace levels in the human genome, requiring a very sensitive and comprehensive data acquisition and analysis method. Our software, wSIM-City, was created to process mass spectral data acquired by a wide selected ion monitoring (wSIM) with gas-phase fractionation and coupled to wide MS2 fragmentation. This untargeted approach can detect DNA adducts at trace levels as low as 1.5 adducts per 109 nucleotides. This level of sensitivity is sufficient for comprehensive analysis and characterization of DNA modifications in human specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Walmsley
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
- Institute of Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jingshu Guo
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
| | - Paari Murugan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
| | - Christopher J Weight
- Glickman Urologic and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44125, Ohio, United States
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland 44106, Ohio, United States
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
- Institute of Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
| | - Peter W Villalta
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
| | - Robert J Turesky
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, Minnesota, United States
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Abstract
The widespread use of plastic packaging for storing, transporting, and conveniently preparing or serving foodstuffs is significantly contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis. This has led to many efforts directed toward amending plastic packaging’s end of life, such as recycling, or alternative material approaches, like increasingly using paper for food packaging. But these approaches often neglect the critical issue of chemical migration: When contacting foodstuffs, chemicals that are present in packaging transfer into food and thus unwittingly become part of the human diet. Hazardous chemicals, such as endocrine disrupters, carcinogens, or substances that bioaccumulate, are collectively referred to as “chemicals of concern.” They can transfer from plastic packaging into food, together with other unknown or toxicologically uncharacterized chemicals. This chemical transfer is scientifically undisputed and makes plastic packaging a known, and avoidable, source of human exposure to synthetic, hazardous, and untested chemicals. Here, I discuss this issue and highlight aspects in need of improvement, namely the way that chemicals present in food packaging are assessed for toxicity. Further, I provide an outlook on how chemical contamination from food packaging could be addressed in the future. Robust innovations must attempt systemic change and tackle the issue of plastic pollution and chemical migration in a way that integrates all existing knowledge. The widespread use of plastic packaging for storing, transporting, and conveniently preparing or serving foodstuffs is significantly contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis. This Essay exhorts us to change the conversation about plastic packaging and address the chemicals that migrate into food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Muncke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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40
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Rider CV, McHale CM, Webster TF, Lowe L, Goodson WH, La Merrill MA, Rice G, Zeise L, Zhang L, Smith MT. Using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens to Develop Research on Chemical Mixtures and Cancer. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:35003. [PMID: 33784186 PMCID: PMC8009606 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People are exposed to numerous chemicals throughout their lifetimes. Many of these chemicals display one or more of the key characteristics of carcinogens or interact with processes described in the hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, evaluating the effects of chemical mixtures on cancer development is an important pursuit. Challenges involved in designing research studies to evaluate the joint action of chemicals on cancer risk include the time taken to perform the experiments because of the long latency and choosing an appropriate experimental design. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this work are to present the case for developing a research program on mixtures of environmental chemicals and cancer risk and describe recommended approaches. METHODS A working group comprising the coauthors focused attention on the design of mixtures studies to inform cancer risk assessment as part of a larger effort to refine the key characteristics of carcinogens and explore their application. Working group members reviewed the key characteristics of carcinogens, hallmarks of cancer, and mixtures research for other disease end points. The group discussed options for developing tractable projects to evaluate the joint effects of environmental chemicals on cancer development. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Three approaches for developing a research program to evaluate the effects of mixtures on cancer development were proposed: a chemical screening approach, a transgenic model-based approach, and a disease-centered approach. Advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8525.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia V. Rider
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cliona M. McHale
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Thomas F. Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Getting to Know Cancer (NGO), Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - William H. Goodson
- Department of Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michele A. La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Glenn Rice
- Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lauren Zeise
- Office of the Director, Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Luoping Zhang
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Martyn T. Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, USA
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Chappell GA, Wikoff DS, Thompson CM. Assessment of Mechanistic Data for Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Rodent Intestinal Cancer Using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens. Toxicol Sci 2021; 180:38-50. [PMID: 33404626 PMCID: PMC7916733 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]) induces intestinal tumors in mice. Mutagenic and nonmutagenic modes of action (MOAs) have been accepted by different regulatory bodies globally, the latter involving cytotoxicity-induced regenerative cell proliferation. However, concerns persist that all possible MOAs have not been fully considered. To address the potential for alternative MOAs, mechanistic data not represented in the existing two MOAs were evaluated. Relevant data were identified and organized by key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs); literature related to epigenetics, immunosuppression, receptor-mediated effects, and immortalization were reviewed to identify potential key events associated with an alternative MOA. Over 200 references were screened for these four KCCs and further prioritized based on relevance to the research objective (ie, in vivo, oral exposure, gastrointestinal tissue). Minimal data were available specific to the intestine for these KCCs, and there was no evidence of any underlying mechanisms or key events that are not already represented in the two proposed MOAs. For example, while epigenetic dysregulation of DNA repair genes has been demonstrated, epigenetic effects were not measured in intestinal tissue, and it has been shown that Cr(VI) does not cause DNA damage in intestinal tissue. High-throughput screening data related to the KCCs were also evaluated, with activity generally limited to the two recognized MOAs. Collectively, no plausible alternative MOAs (or key events) were identified in addition to those previously proposed for Cr(VI) small intestine tumors.
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Prasse C. Reactivity-directed analysis - a novel approach for the identification of toxic organic electrophiles in drinking water. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2021; 23:48-65. [PMID: 33432313 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00471e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water consumption results in exposure to complex mixtures of organic chemicals, including natural and anthropogenic chemicals and compounds formed during drinking water treatment such as disinfection by-products. The complexity of drinking water contaminant mixtures has hindered efforts to assess associated health impacts. Existing approaches focus primarily on individual chemicals and/or the evaluation of mixtures, without providing information about the chemicals causing the toxic effect. Thus, there is a need for the development of novel strategies to evaluate chemical mixtures and provide insights into the species responsible for the observed toxic effects. This critical review introduces the application of a novel approach called Reactivity-Directed Analysis (RDA) to assess and identify organic electrophiles, the largest group of known environmental toxicants. In contrast to existing in vivo and in vitro approaches, RDA utilizes in chemico methodologies that investigate the reaction of organic electrophiles with nucleophilic biomolecules, including proteins and DNA. This review summarizes the existing knowledge about the presence of electrophiles in drinking water, with a particular focus on their formation in oxidative treatment systems with ozone, advanced oxidation processes, and UV light, as well as disinfectants such as chlorine, chloramines and chlorine dioxide. This summary is followed by an overview of existing RDA approaches and their application for the assessment of aqueous environmental matrices, with an emphasis on drinking water. RDA can be applied beyond drinking water, however, to evaluate source waters and wastewater for human and environmental health risks. Finally, future research demands for the detection and identification of electrophiles in drinking water via RDA are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Prasse
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD-21318, USA.
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Abstract
Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment is a hallmark of cancer and is recognized as a key characteristic of carcinogens. However, the failure of resolution of inflammation in cancer is only recently being understood. Products of arachidonic acid and related fatty acid metabolism called eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins, and epoxyeicosanoids, critically regulate inflammation, as well as its resolution. The resolution of inflammation is now appreciated to be an active biochemical process regulated by endogenous specialized pro-resolving lipid autacoid mediators which combat infections and stimulate tissue repair/regeneration. Environmental and chemical human carcinogens, including aflatoxins, asbestos, nitrosamines, alcohol, and tobacco, induce tumor-promoting inflammation and can disrupt the resolution of inflammation contributing to a devastating global cancer burden. While mechanisms of carcinogenesis have focused on genotoxic activity to induce mutations, nongenotoxic mechanisms such as inflammation and oxidative stress promote genotoxicity, proliferation, and mutations. Moreover, carcinogens initiate oxidative stress to synergize with inflammation and DNA damage to fuel a vicious feedback loop of cell death, tissue damage, and carcinogenesis. In contrast, stimulation of resolution of inflammation may prevent carcinogenesis by clearance of cellular debris via macrophage phagocytosis and inhibition of an eicosanoid/cytokine storm of pro-inflammatory mediators. Controlling the host inflammatory response and its resolution in carcinogen-induced cancers will be critical to reducing carcinogen-induced morbidity and mortality. Here we review the recent evidence that stimulation of resolution of inflammation, including pro-resolution lipid mediators and soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, may be a new chemopreventive approach to prevent carcinogen-induced cancer that should be evaluated in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fishbein
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Bruce D. Hammock
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, and UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Charles N. Serhan
- Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dipak Panigrahy
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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44
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Goodson WH, Lowe L, Gilbertson M, Carpenter DO. Testing the low dose mixtures hypothesis from the Halifax project. Rev Environ Health 2020; 35:333-357. [PMID: 32833669 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In 2013, 60 scientists, representing a larger group of 174 scientists from 26 nations, met in Halifax, Nova Scotia to consider whether - using published research - it was logical to anticipate that a mixture of chemicals, each thought to be non-carcinogenic, might act together in that mixture as a virtual carcinogen. The group identified 89 such chemicals, each one affecting one or more Hallmark(s) - collectively covering all Hallmarks of Cancer - confirming the possibility that a chemical mixture could induce all the Hallmarks and function as a virtual carcinogen, thereby supporting the concern that chemical safety research that does not evaluate mixtures, is incomplete. Based on these observations, the Halifax Project developed the Low-Dose Carcinogenesis Hypothesis which posits "…that low-dose exposures to [mixtures of] disruptive chemicals that are not individually carcinogenic may be capable of instigating and/or enabling carcinogenesis." Although testing all possible combinations of over 80,000 chemicals of commerce would be impractical, prudence requires designing a methodology to test whether low-dose chemical mixtures might be carcinogenic. As an initial step toward testing this hypothesis, we conducted a mini review of published empirical observations of biological exposures to chemical mixtures to assess what empirical data exists on which to base future research. We reviewed studies on chemical mixtures with the criteria that the studies reported both different concentrations of chemicals and mixtures composed of different chemicals. We found a paucity of research on this important question. The majority of studies reported hormone related processes and used chemical concentrations selected to facilitate studying how mixtures behave in experiments that were often removed from clinical relevance, i.e., chemicals were not studied at human-relevant concentrations. New research programs must be envisioned to enable study of how mixtures of small doses of chemicals affect human health, starting, when at all possible, from non-malignant specimens when studies are done in vitro. This research should use human relevant concentrations of chemicals, expand research beyond the historic focus on endocrine endpoints and endocrine related cancers, and specifically seek effects that arise uniquely from exposure to chemical mixtures at human-relevant concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Goodson
- Department of Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Getting to Know Cancer (NGO), Truro, NS, B2N 1X5, Canada
| | - Michael Gilbertson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - David O Carpenter
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
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45
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Kripke M, Brody JG, Hawk E, Hernandez AB, Hoppin PJ, Jacobs MM, Rudel RA, Rebbeck TR. Rethinking Environmental Carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:1870-1875. [PMID: 33004408 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-0541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2010 report of the President's Cancer Panel concluded that the burden of cancer from chemical exposures is substantial, while the programs for testing and regulation of carcinogens remain inadequate. New research on the role of early life exposures and the ability of chemicals to act via multiple biological pathways, including immunosuppression, inflammation, and endocrine disruption as well as mutagenesis, further supports the potential for chemicals and chemical mixtures to influence disease. Epidemiologic observations, such as higher leukemia incidence in children living near roadways and industrial sources of air pollution, and new in vitro technologies that decode carcinogenesis at the molecular level, illustrate the diverse evidence that primary prevention of some cancers may be achieved by reducing harmful chemical exposures. The path forward requires cross-disciplinary approaches, increased environmental research investment, system-wide collaboration to develop safer economic alternatives, and community engagement to support evidence-informed action. Engagement by cancer researchers to integrate environmental risk factors into prevention initiatives holds tremendous promise for reducing the rates of disease.See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, "Environmental Carcinogenesis: Pathways to Prevention."
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Kripke
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Ernest Hawk
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Polly J Hoppin
- University of Massachusetts Lowell and Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, Lowell, Massachusetts
| | - Molly M Jacobs
- University of Massachusetts Lowell and Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, Lowell, Massachusetts
| | | | - Timothy R Rebbeck
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
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46
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Guo H, Ahn S, Zhang L. Benzene-associated immunosuppression and chronic inflammation in humans: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med 2020; 78:oemed-2020-106517. [PMID: 32938756 PMCID: PMC7960562 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent evidence has accumulated that the immune system is intimately intertwined with cancer development. Two key characteristics of carcinogens in which the immune system plays a central role are chronic inflammation and immunosuppression. In this systematic review, we investigated the association of chronic inflammatory and immunosuppressive outcomes with benzene, a widely used industrial chemical. Benzene has been confirmed to cause acute myeloid leukaemia and suspected to cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, two cancers of the blood-forming system that affect immune cells. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed and Embase for all relevant studies using a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and selected key words. The detailed review protocol, including search strategy, was registered with PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews (#CRD42019138611). RESULTS Based on all human studies selected in the final review, we report new evidence of a benzene-induced immunosuppressive effect on the adaptive immune system and activation of the innate immune system to cause inflammation. In particular, benzene significantly lowers the number of white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes such as CD4+ T-cells, B-cells and natural killer cells, and increases proinflammatory biomarkers at low levels of exposure. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of benzene's immunotoxicity in humans. Based on results obtained from this review, we propose two potential immunotoxic mechanisms of how benzene induces leukaemia/lymphoma: (1) cancer invasion caused by proinflammatory cytokine production, and (2) cancer promotion via impaired immunosurveillance. Further studies will be required to confirm the connection between benzene exposure and its effects on the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Guo
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Stacy Ahn
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Luoping Zhang
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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47
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Fishbein A, Wang W, Yang H, Yang J, Hallisey VM, Deng J, Verheul SML, Hwang SH, Gartung A, Wang Y, Bielenberg DR, Huang S, Kieran MW, Hammock BD, Panigrahy D. Resolution of eicosanoid/cytokine storm prevents carcinogen and inflammation-initiated hepatocellular cancer progression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:21576-87. [PMID: 32801214 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007412117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic environmental carcinogens promote cancer via genotoxic and nongenotoxic pathways, but nongenetic mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Carcinogen-induced apoptosis may trigger escape from dormancy of microtumors by interfering with inflammation resolution and triggering an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. While eicosanoid and cytokine storms are well-characterized in infection and inflammation, they are poorly characterized in cancer. Here, we demonstrate that carcinogens, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), induce apoptotic cell death and the resulting cell debris stimulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor growth via an "eicosanoid and cytokine storm." AFB1-generated debris up-regulates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), ER stress-response genes including BiP, CHOP, and PDI in macrophages. Thus, selective cytokine or eicosanoid blockade is unlikely to prevent carcinogen-induced cancer progression. Pharmacological abrogation of both the COX-2 and sEH pathways by PTUPB prevented the debris-stimulated eicosanoid and cytokine storm, down-regulated ER stress genes, and promoted macrophage phagocytosis of debris, resulting in suppression of HCC tumor growth. Thus, inflammation resolution via dual COX-2/sEH inhibition is an approach to prevent carcinogen-induced cancer.
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