Carcinogen: Difference between revisions

A '''carcinogen''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɑːr|ˈ|s|ɪ|n|ə|dʒ|ən}}) is any substance that promotes the development of cancer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Carcinogen |url=https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Carcinogen |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=www.genome.gov |language=en}}</ref> Most carcinogens act by creating mutations in DNA that disrupt a cell's normal processes for regulating growth, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation<ref name=":1" />. This is typically a multi-step process in which multiple regulatory mechanisms within the cell are gradually dismantled.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Carcinogenesis |url=https://hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?sectionid=253777560&bookid=3022 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=McGraw Hill Medical |language=en}}</ref> For most solid tumors in humans the latency period from time of exposure to the carcinogenic substance to cancer development is a minimum of ten years. For blood cancers, the latency period may be as short as 2 years<ref name=":3" />. Due to prolonged latency periods identification of carcinogens can be challenging. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, viruses, bacteria, and radiation<ref name=":2" />. The majority of cancers are related to a combination of environmental exposures and genetic factors. Only about 5% of all cancers can be attributed to genetic factors alone<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=1. Ladou 2. Harrison |title=Current Diagnosis and Treatment Occupational and Environmental Medicine |publisher=McGraw Hill Lange |year=2014 |isbn=9781260143430 |edition=6th |pages=389 -418}}</ref>.