Preventable exposures associated with human cancers.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Carcinogenesis
• Public Health

Background:

• Understanding cancer causes is vital for control and research.
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph series is a key resource for carcinogen classification.
• Recent IARC reviews provide updated information on carcinogens and associated cancer sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compile and present information on cancer sites linked to over 100 carcinogenic agents.
• To identify known and suspected causes of cancer for specific anatomical sites.
• To summarize the scientific rationale, including mechanistic data, for carcinogen classifications.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging the forthcoming IARC Monographs Volume 100 findings.
• Listing cancer sites associated with each identified carcinogenic agent.
• Reorganizing data to present causes of cancer by anatomical site.
• Summarizing mechanistic data supporting carcinogen classifications.

Main Results:

• Cataloged cancer sites for over 100 carcinogenic agents.
• Presented a consolidated list of known and suspected cancer causes by site.
• Highlighted the increasing use of mechanistic data in carcinogen identification.
• Noted ongoing epidemiological research identifying new carcinogens and exposure-response relationships.

Conclusions:

• The current state-of-the-science in carcinogen identification is advanced by IARC's comprehensive review.
• Mechanistic and epidemiological data are crucial for identifying cancer causes.
• Despite progress, significant knowledge gaps remain for the etiology of common human cancers.