Jhm. Vandelft et al., BIOLOGICAL EFFECT MARKERS FOR EXPOSURE TO CARCINOGENIC COMPOUND AND THEIR RELEVANCE FOR RISK ASSESSMENT, Critical reviews in toxicology, 28(5), 1998, pp. 477-510
In this review data are summarized on biomarkers that are used for bio
logical effect monitoring of human populations exposed to genotoxic ca
rcinogens. The biomarkers are DNA and protein adducts and cytogenetic
effects. Most of these biomarkers are relevant for the process of carc
inogenesis. Emphasis is on providing information on the properties of
the biomarkers and on their relevance for predicting cancer risk. Over
views are presented of: (1) studies on effects of exposure in target t
issues of human origin obtained by surgical biopsies or autopsies, (2)
epidemiological studies on healthy (cancer-free) individuals, correla
ting the putative occupational, lifestyle or environmental exposure wi
th increased levels of biomarkers in blood cells, and (3) studies with
animal models on the relation between biomarkers and cancer. Finally,
on the basis of epidemiological data the possibilities were explored
to use biomarker data to estimate the risk of death due to cancer. For
several biomarkers the increment of the cancer mortality risk was cal
culated on the basis of a lifetime doubling of the biomarker level.