Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System
07:08

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

Published on: April 26, 2018

Meat-cooking mutagens and risk of renal cell carcinoma

C R Daniel1, K L Schwartz, J S Colt

  • 1Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. Carrie.Daniel@nih.hhs.gov

British Journal of Cancer
|September 8, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

High-temperature cooked meat contains carcinogens. Barbecued meat intake, specifically benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), was linked to increased kidney cancer risk, especially in African Americans and smokers.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Renal Cell Carcinoma Epidemiology

Background:

  • High-temperature cooked meats harbor heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known carcinogens.
  • The kidneys play a crucial role in metabolizing and excreting these meat-derived mutagens.
  • Understanding the link between meat consumption, cooking methods, and kidney cancer is vital for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between meat-derived mutagens, dietary intake, cooking methods, and the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
  • To explore potential interactions between carcinogen exposure and demographic factors in RCC development.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based case-control study was conducted in Detroit and Chicago.
  • 1192 newly diagnosed RCC cases and 1175 controls were frequency matched by age, sex, and race.
  • The Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) assessed meat-cooking methods and doneness, with mutagen levels estimated using the CHARRED database.

Main Results:

  • Increased risk of RCC was associated with higher intake of barbecued meat (P(trend)=0.04).
  • Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) intake, a PAH found in barbecued meat, showed a significant positive association with RCC risk (OR=1.50, P(trend)=0.001).
  • The risk of RCC associated with BaP intake was more than doubled in African Americans and current smokers (P(interaction)<0.05). No association was found for HCAs or overall meat intake.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary intake of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon prevalent in barbecued meats, is positively associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk.
  • These findings support further epidemiological research into BaP exposure and its role in kidney cancer.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering specific carcinogens and cooking methods in dietary cancer risk assessment.

More Related Videos

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency14:45

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency

Published on: August 6, 2014

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Carcinogen-induced Murine Bladder Tumors05:19

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Carcinogen-induced Murine Bladder Tumors

Published on: March 29, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Mutations01:39

Mutations

Overview