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Epigenetic carcinogens: evaluation and risk assessment

G M Williams1, J Whysner

  • 1American Health Foundation, Valhalla, NY 10595-1599, USA.

Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology : Official Journal of the Gesellschaft Fur Toxikologische Pathologie
|February 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Many cancer-causing chemicals operate through epigenetic mechanisms, not DNA damage. This means cancer risk is only present at high exposure levels, often not applicable to humans.

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Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Risk Assessment

Background:

  • Current U.S. regulatory policies often assume a single cancer causation model based on chemical-induced genetic alterations.
  • This model predicts cancer risk even at very low exposure levels.
  • However, many chemical carcinogens act via epigenetic mechanisms, which differ from DNA-reactive pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relevance of epigenetic mechanisms in chemical carcinogenesis for human risk assessment.
  • To analyze specific examples of non-genotoxic carcinogens and their implications for regulatory policy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of mechanistic data for chemical tumorigens.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms, including threshold effects and species-specific responses.

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  • Examination of case studies: butylated hydroxyanisole, saccharin, d-limonene, and phenobarbital.

    • Main Results:

    • Epigenetic mechanisms often require high-level, prolonged exposures and may have thresholds below which they are not operative.
    • Rodent-specific epigenetic effects, such as those seen with d-limonene, may not be relevant to humans.
    • Human insensitivity or lower sensitivity to epigenetic carcinogens is suggested by studies on food additives and phenobarbital.

    Conclusions:

    • Mechanistic considerations demonstrate that humans are likely not at risk from current exposure levels of many epigenetic carcinogens.
    • Regulatory policies may need to incorporate mechanistic data to differentiate between DNA-reactive and epigenetic carcinogens.
    • A nuanced approach considering exposure thresholds and species differences is crucial for accurate human health risk assessment.