Gene-environment interactions in human lung cancer

Gene-environment interactions are thought to be critical for several diseas es such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Cancer is a result o f multiple gene-environment interactions occurring over several decades. Du ring tumor development the cell accumulates multiple genetic changes, which generate the transformed phenotype, i.e. a cell with increased genetic ins tability. Lung cancer is a useful model for the study of the interplay betw een genetic factors and environmental exposure since the primary etiology i s well established. Several polymorphic enzymes that may be important deter minants of susceptibility have been demonstrated. Data also provide evidenc e for sex differences in lung cancer susceptibility. Furthermore, certain c hemical carcinogens may contribute to the carcinogenic process in the lung epithelial cells by inducing genomic instability either directly or indirec tly through inflammatory processes. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.