| Some carcinogens directly alter the genes
of living cells. Others act indirectly, notably by generating
highly reactive chemical species that wreak havoc on the body
when they exceed its capacity to 'mop them up' – this is
called 'oxidative stress'. Ultraviolet (UV) light targets multiple
molecules in living tissues, including DNA. Harmful to the eyes,
skin, and immune system, it is a major cause of skin cancer. UV
can also react with diverse chemicals, potentially turning harmless
ones into carcinogens.
Under Key Action 4, researchers aim to identify carcinogenic
environmental factors, to explain how they exert their effects,
to detect early signs of exposure and oxidative stress, and to
develop and evaluate strategies for countering carcinogenic processes
before they lead to cancer.
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The environment and
lymphomas
The Epilymph project(1) is focusing on a group
of cancers called lymphomas which affect various
types of blood cells. These cancers are the
fifth most frequent cancer type in the EU, and
their incidence is rising. The study addresses
the question: do certain environmental factors
contribute to causing these cancers and their
increasing incidence?
Epilymph is recruiting over 3 000 cases and
a group of comparable controls for a study based
in eight European countries, which will explore
whether agents such as solar UV radiation, pesticides,
and solvents contribute to causing this type
of cancer. The influence of any previous illness
and medical treatment will also be examined.
Exposure assessments are made on the basis of
personal medical, job and residetial history,
diet, smoking and alcohol consumption, sun exposure,
and the use of certain beauty products. Blood
sample analyses will reveal the presence of
specific pesticide-related compounds. |
| (1)
Environmental Exposures and Lymphoid neoplasms:
QLK4-1999-01470 |
Dr Paul Brennan
International Agency for Research on Cancer
(FR)
brennan@iarc.fr
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Saving your skin
With depletion of the ozone layer and the increasing
popularity of skiing and sunbathing, we are
becoming increasingly exposed to UV radiation,
the major harmful component of sunlight. Preventive
intervention is the ultimate goal of a project(2)
focusing on UV-inflicted damage to the skin.
The idea is to see whether the oxidative stress
caused by UV radiation can be countered with
dietary antioxidants.
Partners are developing biomarkers for measuring
oxidative stress. These markers are being developed
in cultured cells and will be validated in biopsies
of both normal and UV-exposed skin. Parallel
studies will be undertaken on potentially protective
antioxidants, to establish what happens to them
when they are digested and in what form they
accumulate in the skin. Their ability to counter
oxidative stress will be tested by means of
the validated biomarkers.
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| (2)
New biomarkers of oxidative stress to humans:
a role in developing new strategies for human
protection against environmental (UVA) damage
to skin: QLK4-1999-01590. |
Professor Rex Tyrrell
University of Bath (UK)
prsrmt@bath.ac.uk
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