Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and digestive tract cancers: a perspective.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Colon cancers are prevalent globally, often linked to sporadic gene damage rather than familial history.
• Environmental factors, particularly diet, significantly influence susceptibility to gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental toxicants found in contaminated food, posing a risk for GI cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of dietary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the development of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
• To consolidate findings from human, animal, and cell culture studies on PAHs and GI cancer.
• To highlight data gaps and suggest future research directions for understanding sporadic GI cancers caused by environmental carcinogens.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on dietary PAH intake, bioavailability, biotransformation, and epidemiological findings.
• Analysis of studies involving human populations, animal models, and cell cultures related to GI cancer.
• Discussion of mechanisms underlying GI cancer development due to PAH exposure.

Main Results:

• Dietary intake is a major route of human exposure to PAHs.
• PAHs are implicated in the development of GI cancers, though less studied than their role in breast or lung cancer.
• Bioavailability and biotransformation processes significantly affect PAH disposition and their carcinogenic potential in the GI tract.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of sporadic GI cancers induced by environmental carcinogens like PAHs.
• Understanding PAH exposure pathways and their impact on the digestive tract is crucial for risk assessment and prevention strategies.
• This review emphasizes the need for more focused studies on the contribution of diet and environmental factors to GI cancer etiology.