The 1996 Veylien Henderson Award of the Society of Toxicology of Canada. Current concepts: neutrophils and the activation of carcinogens in the breast and other organs

P D Josephy; B L Coomber

doi:10.1139/cjpp-76-7-8-693

The 1996 Veylien Henderson Award of the Society of Toxicology of Canada. Current concepts: neutrophils and the activation of carcinogens in the breast and other organs

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998 Jul-Aug;76(7-8):693-700. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-76-7-8-693.

Authors

P D Josephy¹, B L Coomber

Affiliation

¹ Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Guelph, ON, Canada. JOSEPHY@CHEMBIO.UOGUELPH.CA

PMID: 10030448
DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-76-7-8-693

Abstract

Many chemical carcinogens target epithelial tissues, but the biological and biochemical bases of carcinogen specificity remain largely unknown. Focusing on the mammary gland, we discuss the concept that neutrophils metabolize carcinogens to reactive species that damage adjacent epithelial cells. This mechanism may help to explain why epithelial cells are sensitive targets for chemical carcinogenesis, despite their limited bioactivation capacity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biotransformation
Breast Neoplasms / etiology*
Breast Neoplasms / genetics
Carcinogens / metabolism*
Carcinogens / toxicity
Environmental Pollutants / metabolism*
Environmental Pollutants / toxicity
Epithelium / drug effects
Epithelium / pathology
Female
Humans
Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / etiology
Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
Mutagenicity Tests
Mutation
Neutrophils / metabolism*
Peroxidases / genetics

Substances

Carcinogens
Environmental Pollutants
Peroxidases