OXYGEN RADICALS AND ASBESTOS CARCINOGENESIS

Asbestos fibers have been shown to generate reactive oxygen species us ing a variety of in vitro assays. It is hypothesized that these highly reactive metabolites mediate the development of malignant mesotheliom a induced by asbestos fibers. DNA is a potential target of oxidant att ack. Adaptive responses to oxidant injury have been described during e xposure of mesothelial cells to asbestos fibers in vitro. Failure of t hese adaptive responses may lead to genetic instability and alteration s in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that confer a proliferative advantage to emerging neoplastic mesothelial cells.