Environmental Exposures, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Details

• Personal Author:
  Colacino JA ; Forté CA ; Hill EM ; Thong T
• Description:
  An estimated 70-90% of all cancers are linked to exposure to environmental risk factors. In parallel, the number of stem cells in a tissue has been shown to be a strong predictor of risk of developing cancer in that tissue. Tumors themselves are characterized by an acquisition of "stem cell" characteristics, and a growing body of evidence points to tumors themselves being sustained and propagated by a stem cell-like population. Here, we review our understanding of the interplay between environmental exposures, stem cell biology, and cancer. We provide an overview of the role of stem cells in development, tissue homeostasis, and wound repair. We discuss the pathways and mechanisms governing stem cell plasticity and regulation of the stem cell state, and describe experimental methods for assessment of stem cells. We then review the current understanding of how environmental exposures impact stem cell function relevant to carcinogenesis and cancer prevention, with a focus on environmental and occupational exposures to chemical, physical, and biological hazards. We also highlight key areas for future research in this area, including defining whether the biological basis for cancer disparities is related to effects of complex exposure mixtures on stem cell biology. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Environmental Exposure Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Carcinogenesis Biological Effects Cancer Carcinogenesis Chemical Development Disease Prevention Environmental Exposure Epigenetics Occupational Exposure Prevention Reprogramming Stem Cells

  More +
• ISSN:
  0163-7258
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  204
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058232
• Citation:
  Pharmacol Ther 2019 Dec; 204:107398
• Contact Point Address:
  Justin A. Colacino, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 6651 SPH 1, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
• Email:
  colacino@umich.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Pharmacology & Therapeutics
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:63e9aea7f1101029c56cf44e01f425c823d092c0faa907fa076446fb610a77d59e4d954efb48aa0cae6dd65ef4606b8b3678cd64c48a5ed65aec7c0a90d05e74
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/221364/cdc_221364_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.39 MB ]