Definition
Carcinogenesis is the process by which cancer develops in various tissues in the body.
Characteristics
In most cases carcinogenesis occurs via a stepwise process that can encompass a major fraction of the lifespan (multistep development). These progressive stages often include hyperplasia, dysplasia, metaplasia, benign tumors, and eventually malignant tumors. Malignant tumors can also undergo further progression to become more invasive and metastatic, autonomous of hormones and growth factors and resistant to chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Causes
Known causes of carcinogenesis include various chemicals or mixture of chemicals present in several sources. This includes cigarette smoke, the diet, the workplace or the general environment, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, specific viruses, bacteria and parasites and endogenous factors (oxidative DNA damage, DNA depurination, deamination).
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 69 agents, mixtures,...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Kitchin KT (ed) (1999) Carcinogenicity, Testing, Predicting and Interpreting Chemical Effects. Marcel Dekker, New York
Weinstein IB, Santella RM, Perera FP (1995) Molecular biology and molecular epidemiology of cancer. In: Greenwald P, Kramer BS, Weed DL (eds) Cancer Prevention and Control. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 83–110
Weinstein IB, Carothers AM, Santella RM, Perera FP (1995) Molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis and multistage carcinogenesis. In: Mendelsohn J, Howley PM, Israel MA, Liotta LA (eds) The Molecular Basis of Cancer. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 59–85
Weinstein IB (2000) Disorders in cell circuitry during multistage carcinogenesis: the role of homeostasis. Carcinogenesis 22:857–864
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
Weinstein, I.B. (2005). Carcinogenesis. In: Vohr, HW. (eds) Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_208
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_208
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44172-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-27806-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences