Cancer is a major public health problem. Both inherited genes and environmental factors play a role in the development of cancer. Associations have also been documented between environmental pollutants and cancer. In general, cancers caused by occupational or environmental exposures are pathologically and clinically indistinguishable from other cancers. However, some cancers have a very high probability of being occupationally related, such as angiosarcoma of the liver due to vinyl chloride exposure, and mesothelioma from asbestos fiber exposure. Documentation of exposures that cause cancer relies heavily on epidemiological studies. Unfortunately, there are complicating factors, such as the long latency period before the cancers are actually diagnosed, well after many other workers had already been exposed. Therefore, what must the prevention of occupational and environmental cancers rely upon to predict effects on humans and establish limits for human exposure?

Cancer is a major public health problem. Both inherited genes and environmental factors play a role in the development of cancer. Associations have also been documented between environmental pollutants and cancer. In general, cancers caused by occupational or environmental exposures are pathologically and clinically indistinguishable from other cancers. However, some cancers have a very high probability of being occupationally related, such as angiosarcoma of the liver due to vinyl chloride exposure, and mesothelioma from asbestos fiber exposure. Documentation of exposures that cause cancer relies heavily on epidemiological studies. Unfortunately, there are complicating factors, such as the long latency period before the cancers are actually diagnosed, well after many other workers had already been exposed. Therefore, what must the prevention of occupational and environmental cancers rely upon to predict effects on humans and establish limits for human exposure?

Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)

11th Edition

ISBN:9781305251052

Author:Michael Cummings

Publisher:Michael Cummings

Chapter12: Genes And Cancer

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 27QP: Studies have shown that there are significant differences in cancer rates among different ethnic...

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Studies have shown that there are significant differences in cancer rates among different ethnic groups. For example, the Japanese have very high rates of colon cancer but very low rates of breast cancer. It has also been demonstrated that when members of low-risk ethnic groups move to high-risk areas, their cancer risks rise to those of the high-risk area. For example, Japanese who live in the United States, where the risk of breast cancer is high, have higher rates of breast cancer than do Japanese who live in Japan. What are some of the possible explanations for this phenomenon? What factors may explain why the Japanese have higher rates of colon cancer than do other ethnic groups?
Unlike many other diseases, the vast majority of cancers in humans are not transmissible - meaning a person can’t ‘catch cancer’ from someone else. How does a person get cancer, then? Starting with a normal (non-cancerous) cell, describe a possible sequence of events that could eventually result in metastasized cancer, including the genes, structures or processes involved.
Although cancer is not a contagious disease in humans or other vertebrates, there have been rare cases in which cancers have spread from one organism to another. Describe three cases of these contagious cancers and what conditions might have led to their appearance. For an introduction to this topic, see http:// www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/is-cancer-contagious.
Which of the following effectively describes the situation of someone with an inherited predisposition to cancer such a familial adenomatous polyposis or BRCA-associated familial breast cancer? Choose all that apply Group of answer choices None of the other answers effectively describes the situation If they get malignant cancer, somatic mutations will not have been a factor Their cancer will most likely arise in their germ cells, not their somatic cells Most cells in their body contain multiple cancer-causing mutations Every cell of their body contains a gain-of-function allele of an oncogene Every cell of their body contains a defective, loss-of-function allele of a tumor suppressor gene
Explain why each of the following is a risk factor for cancer: age, loss-of-function mutations in repair or tumor-suppressor genes, certain viruses such as HPV, chemical mutagens, radiation/UV light
Describe two mechanisms by which genetic change causes cancer.
What is one type of cancer (in humans or other organisms) that you are familiar with or interested in? How often does this cancer occur? What are some genetic causes of this type of cancer?
How does the multistep model of cancer explain the observation that sporadic cases of retinoblastoma usually appear in only one eye, whereas inherited forms of the cancer appear in both eyes?
Cancer can arise spontaneously, but it can also be induced as a result of environmental factors such as sun exposure, infections, and tobacco smoking. If you were asked to help allocate resources to cancer research, what emphasis would you place on research to find cancer cures, compared to that placed on education about cancer prevention?
Heavy smokers or industrial workers exposed for a limited time to a chemical carcinogen that induces mutations in dna do not usually begin to develop cancers characteristic of their habit or occupation until 10, 20, or even more years after the exposure. suggest an explanation for this long delay.
Explain what it means when the developmental steps for cancer are “not obligatory” and give one example
''The main environmental causes of cancer are theproducts of our highly industrialized way of life such aspollution and food additives.''Is this statement true? Explain why or why not.