TRYPTOPHAN AND CARCINOGENESIS - REVIEW AND UPDATE ON HOW TRYPTOPHAN MAY ACT

This review covers the historical developments of the consideration th at tryptophan may influence the induction of cancer in experimental st udies. Studies relating to stimulatory effects, as well as to inhibito ry effects, of tryptophan or tryptophan-related compounds are describe d. Also the effects of pyrolysis products of tryptophan on carcinogene sis are covered. In consideration that new L-tryptophan-related contam inants may be involved in a recently described human disease, a descri ption is given of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, which has been at tributed to the ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing related contamina nts. Whether these new L-tryptophan-related contaminants alone or toge ther with L-tryptophan may prove to be carcinogenic remains to be dete rmined. Lastly, recent developments relating to regulatory effects of L-tryptophan on liver metabolism are reviewed and then considered as p ossibly playing a role in carcinogenesis.