MECHANISMS OF CARCINOGENESIS AND CLINICAL-FEATURES OF ASBESTOS-ASSOCIATED CANCERS

Exposure to asbestos, particularly members of the amphibole subgroup ( crocidolite, amosite), is associated with the development of malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Although management of asbestos in buil dings and increased regulation of asbestos in workplace settings are v iable approaches to the prevention of disease, the prognosis of asbest os-associated tumors is generally dismal. Moreover, although a vast am ount of information is available on the responses of cells and tissues to fibers, understanding the pathogenesis of asbestos-associated mali gnancies is hampered by the complexity of and differences between vari ous fiber types. Multiple interactions between components of cigarette smoke and asbestos may be important in the development of lung cancer . In this article, the general properties of asbestos fibers will be d iscussed with an emphasis on chemical physical features implicated in tumorigenesis. We will then provide a brief overview of the clinical f eatures and treatment of cancers associated with exposure to asbestos. Finally, we will review recent experimental data providing some insig ht into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis by asb estos.