Tumour predisposition and cancer syndromes as models to study gene–environment interactions

Michele Carbone, Sarah T. Arron, Bruce Beutler, Angela Bononi, Webster Cavenee, James E. Cleaver, Carlo M. Croce, Alan D’Andrea, William D. Foulkes, Giovanni Gaudino, Joanna L. Groden, Elizabeth P. Henske, Ian D. Hickson, Paul M. Hwang, Richard D. Kolodner, Tak W. Mak, David Malkin, Raymond J. Monnat, Flavia Novelli, Harvey I. PassJohn H. Petrini, Laura S. Schmidt, Haining Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cell division and organismal development are exquisitely orchestrated and regulated processes. The dysregulation of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes may cause cancer, a consequence of cell-intrinsic and/or cell-extrinsic events. Cellular DNA can be damaged by spontaneous hydrolysis, reactive oxygen species, aberrant cellular metabolism or other perturbations that cause DNA damage. Moreover, several environmental factors may damage the DNA, alter cellular metabolism or affect the ability of cells to interact with their microenvironment. While some environmental factors are well established as carcinogens, there remains a large knowledge gap of others owing to the difficulty in identifying them because of the typically long interval between carcinogen exposure and cancer diagnosis. DNA damage increases in cells harbouring mutations that impair their ability to correctly repair the DNA. Tumour predisposition syndromes in which cancers arise at an accelerated rate and in different organs — the equivalent of a sensitized background — provide a unique opportunity to examine how gene–environment interactions influence cancer risk when the initiating genetic defect responsible for malignancy is known. Understanding the molecular processes that are altered by specific germline mutations, environmental exposures and related mechanisms that promote cancer will allow the design of novel and effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)533-549
Number of pages17
JournalNature Reviews Cancer
Volume20
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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