Abstract
The metallic elements and their compounds include some very notable human carcinogens. The various inorganics that are considered clearly carcinogenic in humans include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, and nickel, and their related compounds, as well as chromium(VI) compounds. For various other metals and metals compounds, there is clear evidence in rodents of carcinogenic potential but only limited or inadequate evidence of carcinogenesis in humans. These categories would include various compounds of lead, indium, cobalt, vanadium and iron. Most metallic elements that are associated with a carcinogenic response have a capacity to induce oxidative stress at levels relevant to carcinogenic mechanisms. The induction of oxidative stress by carcinogenic metals can be direct (e.g. Fenton-like chemistry) or indirect (e.g. glutathione consumption, inhibition of oxidative stress response enzymes). Oxidative stress may be a primary or secondary mechanism of carcinogenesis for an individual metal and could lead to direct DNA damage, or damage to DNA repair systems as a basis of genotoxicity. However, every metal shows distinct biological behaviors and requires investigation on a metal-by-metal basis. Metal-induced oxidative stress can also be associated with a variety of other disease states.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Jomova K, Valko M (2011) Advances in metal-induced oxidative stress and human disease. Toxicology 283:65–87
Lee JC, Son YO, Pratheeshkumar P et al (2012) Oxidative stress and metal carcinogenesis. Free Radic Biol Med 53:742–757
Beyersmann D, Hartwig A (2008) Carcinogenic metal compounds: recent insight into molecular and cellular mechanisms. Arch Toxicol 82:493–512
IARC (2012) International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. A review of human carcinogens: arsenic, metals, fibres, and dusts, vol 100C. IARC Press, Lyon, pp 41–501
IARC (2006) International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Inorganic and organic lead compounds, vol 87. IARC Press, Lyon, pp 33–468
IARC (2006) International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Cobalt in hard metals and cobalt sulfate, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide and vanadium pentoxide, vol 86. IARC Press, Lyon, pp 35–292
Ashmore JH, Lesko SM, Miller PE et al (2013) Association of dietary and supplemental iron and colorectal cancer in a population-based study. Eur J Cancer Prev 22:506–511
Kew MC (2014) Hepatic iron overload and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Cancer 3:31–40
Kojima C, Ramirez DC, Tokar EJ et al (2009) Requirement of arsenic biomethylation for oxidative DNA damage. J Natl Cancer Inst 101:1670–1681
Zhou Z, Wang C, Liu H et al (2013) Cadmium induced cell apoptosis, DNA damage, decreased DNA repair capacity, and genomic instability during malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells. Int J Med Sci 10:1485–1496
Thomas DJ, Li J, Waters SB et al (2007) Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase and the methylation of arsenicals. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 232:3–13
Styblo M, Del Razo LM, Vega L et al (2000) Comparative toxicity of trivalent and pentavalent inorganic and methylated arsenicals in rat and human cells. Arch Toxicol 74:289–299
Salnikow K, Zhitkovich A (2008) Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in metal carcinogenesis and cocarcinogenesis: nickel, arsenic, and chromium. Chem Res Toxicol 21:28–44
Engström K, Vahter M, Mlakar SJ et al (2011) Polymorphisms in arsenic(+III oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) predict gene expression of AS3MT as well as arsenic metabolism. Environ Health Perspect 119:182–188
Tokar EJ, Boyd W, Freedman JH et al (2013) Toxic effects of metals, Chapter 23. In: Klaassen CD (ed) Casarett and Doull’s toxicology: the basic science of poisons, 8th edn. McGraw-Hill Medical, New York, pp 981–1030
Flora SJS (2011) Arsenic-induced oxidative stress and its reversibility. Free Radic Biol Med 51:257–281
Tokar EJ, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ward JM et al (2010) Cancer in experimental animals exposed to arsenic and arsenic compounds. Crit Rev Toxicol 40:912–927
Yamanaka K, Takabayashi F, Mizoi M et al (2001) Oral exposure of dimethylarsinic acid, a main metabolite of inorganic arsenics, in mice leads to an increase in 8-oxo-2’deoxyguanosine level, specifically in the target organs for arsenic carcinogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 287:66–70
Attia SM, Harisa GI, Hassan MH et al (2013) Beryllium chloride-induced oxidative DNA damage and alteration in the expression patterns of DNA repair-related genes. Mutagenesis 28:555–559
Valko M, Rhodes CJ, Moncol J et al (2006) Free radicals, metals and antioxidants in oxidative stress-induced cancer. Chem Biol Interact 160:1–40
Waalkes MP (2003) Cadmium carcinogenesis. Mutat Res 533:107–120
Qu W, Pi J, Waalkes MP (2013) Metallothionein blocks oxidative DNA damage in vitro. Arch Toxicol 87:311–321
Witt KL, Stout MD, Herbert RA et al (2013) Mechanistic insights from the NTP studies of chromium. Toxicol Pathol 41:326–342
Sun H, Shamy M, Costa M (2013) Nickel and epigenetic gene silencing. Genes (Basel) 4:583–595
NTP 2011 (2011) National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens, 12th ed. Cobalt sulfate and Cobalt-tungsten Carbide: powders and hard metals, pp. 113–118
Salnikow K, Zhitkovich A (2008) Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in metal carcinogenesis and cocarcinogenesis: nickel, arsenic, and chromium. Chem Res Toxicol 21:28–44
Waalkes MP, Diwan BA, Ward JM et al (1995) Renal tubular tumors and atypical hyperplasias in B6C3F1 mice exposed to lead acetate during gestation and lactation occur with minimal chronic nephropathy. Cancer Res 55:5265–5271
Waalkes MP, Liu J, Goyer RA (2004) Metallothionein-I/II double knockout mice are hypersensitive to lead-induced kidney carcinogenesis: role of inclusion body formation. Cancer Res 64:7766–7772
Chiaverini N, Ley MD (2010) Protective effect of metallothionein on oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. Free Radic Res 44:605–613
Qu W, Diwan BA, Liu J et al (2002) The metallothionein-null phenotype is associated with heightened sensitivity to lead toxicity and an inability to form inclusion bodies. Am J Pathol 160:1047–1056
Zuo P, Qu W, Cooper RN et al (2009) Potential role of alpha-synuclein and metallothionein in lead-induced inclusion body formation. Toxicol Sci 111:100–108
Gottschling BC, Maronpot RR, Hailey JR et al (2001) The role of oxidative stress in indium phosphide-induced lung carcinogenesis in rats. Toxicol Sci 64:28–40
Asakura K, Satoh H, Chiba M et al (2009) Genotoxicity studies of heavy metals: lead, bismuth, indium, silver and antimony. J Occup Health 51:498–512
IARC (1987) International Agency for Research on Cancer monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans; overall evaluations of Carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, Suppl. No. 7. IARC Press, Lyon
Chua AC, Klopcic BR, Ho DS et al (2013) Dietary iron enhances colonic inflammation and IL-6/IL-11-Stat3 signaling promoting colonic tumor development in mice. PLoS One 8(11):e78850
Gao X, Qian M, Campian JL et al (2006) Cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of tobacco-borne free fatty acids. Free Radic Biol Med 40:165–172
Ponka P, Tenenbein M, Eaton JW (2007) Iron. In: Nordberg GF, Fowler BA, Nordberg M (eds) Handbook of the toxicology of metals, 3rd edn. Elsevier, New York, pp 557–567
Kostova I (2009) Titanium and vanadium complexes as anticancer agents. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 9:827–842
Silbergeld EK, Waalkes M, Rice JM (2000) Lead as a carcinogen: experimental evidence and mechanisms of action. Am J Ind Med 38:316–323
Ress NB, Chou BJ, Renne RA et al (2003) Carcinogenicity of inhaled vanadium pentoxide in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. Toxicol Sci 74:287–296
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tokar, E.J., Qu, W., Person, R.J., Ngalame, O.N., Waalkes, M.P. (2015). Oxidative Stress and the Inorganic Carcinogens. In: Roberts, S., Kehrer, J., Klotz, LO. (eds) Studies on Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology. Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19096-9_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19096-9_16
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-19095-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-19096-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)