Co-carcinogen

A co-carcinogen is a chemical that promotes the effects of a carcinogen in the production of cancer. Usually, the term is used to refer to chemicals that are not carcinogenic on their own, such that an equivalent amount of the chemical is insufficient to initiate carcinogenesis.[1][2] A chemical can be co-carcinogenic with other chemicals or with nonchemical carcinogens, such as UV radiation.

This article is about Co-carcinogen and its issue. For the Carcinogen, see Carcinogen For other uses, see Anti-carcinogen or Oncology or Neoplasm.

For example, sodium arsenite can be administered to mice at a low enough concentration that it does not cause tumors on its own, but it increases the rate of formation and size of tumors formed after UV exposure.[3]

A chemical may act as a co-carcinogen even if it does not cause direct DNA damage such as mutation, as long as it can affect a cancer-related pathway. An example of this category includes chemicals within the phorbol ester family, which mimic a native signalling molecule. This ester is not mutagenic, but can increase the rate of cancer by promoting cell growth, a traditional hallmark of cancer.

A chemical may both have anti-carcinogenic properties and yet still be a co-carcinogen in combination with some carcinogens. Additionally, the carcinogenic modifying ability of a chemical can often be dose dependent, where low doses of the compound produce beneficial (or at least non-harmful) results (as in hormesis) while higher doses can lead to a toxic effect.

Evidence points to beta carotene being one example of such a compound, which has led researchers to caution against the emphasis on isolated dietary supplements and instead recommend a focus on promoting a diverse diet rich in fruits and vegetables.[4][5]

Classification of co-carcinogen

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), established in 1965 as a subunit of World Health Organization, classify carcinogens into four groups.[6] Co-carcinogen is not in any of these four groups.

  • Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans.
  • Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans.
  • Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans.
  • Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
  • Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans.
  • Co-carcinogen
  • Anti-carcinogen

Co-carcinogen does not work as the same way of carcinogenic that having the ability to cause cytopathic effect (CPE) to body cells, tissues and even organs. However, co-carcinogen activates and strengthen the functioning of carcinogenic substance.[7]

Common co-carcinogens

Co-carcinogens can be a lifestyle like cigarette-smoking, alcohol-drinking or even areca nut tobacco-chewing, which is an Asian tradition, because those activities promote the cytopathic effect (CPE).[8] Also, some virus are co-carcinogens like Herpesviruses, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4) [9] Over intake beta carotene for a long period of time increased the risk of lung cancer, prostate cancer and many other kind of malignant tumor for cigarette smoker and worker having high contact with asbestos.[10]

Issues
Tolerable upper intake levels

Experiments for human toxicology require a long term following and a large amount of investment in order to classify a chemical as co-carcinogens, carcinogens or anti-carcinogenic. In recent years, people substitutes health supplement for healthy meal. Some myths even state beta carotene [11] as elixir in developing countries (the Third World).

With rising health consciousness, people rely on food supplements like vitamins A, B, C, D, E etc. these vitamins act as anti-oxidants chemical in the human body. Antioxidants is a good chemical in the appropriate consumption but a large overdose can cause cellular oxidation and cause cytopathic. Also, the industries can not strictly control the concentration and dose for supplement that extracted from natural food resources. A long-term consumption of those supplement can cause physical burden and also a significant hard work for organ to metabolize. Many health organization and government have published a maximum daily consumption for supplement called tolerable upper intake levels (UL), for example World Health Organization suggest the tolerable upper intake levels of vitamin C is 2000 mg/d for adult men from age 31 to 50.[12] Tolerable upper intake levels is different for different gender and age. These suggested intake level can be followed in order to maintain the public health and safety.[13]

Both animal and human experiment research shows that supplement cannot be the substitution to replace the daily food diet. Having a diverse diet and healthy habits is the better way to stay healthy instead of taking a lots of supplement that might be a co-carcinogen.

References
  1. Potter, Van Rensselaer (1980). "Initiation and promotion in cancer formation: The importance of studies on intercellular communication". The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 53 (5): 367–84. PMC 2595915. PMID 7013284.
  2. Klaassen, Curtis (20 November 2007). Casarett and Doull's toxicology. ISBN 978-0071470513.
  3. Rossman, Toby G.; Uddin, Ahmed N.; Burns, Fredric J.; Bosland, Maarten C. (2001). "Arsenite is a Cocarcinogen with Solar Ultraviolet Radiation for Mouse Skin: An Animal Model for Arsenic Carcinogenesis". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 176 (1): 64–71. doi:10.1006/taap.2001.9277. PMID 11578149. S2CID 7844854.
  4. Paolini, Moreno; Abdel-Rahman, Sherif Z; Sapone, Andrea; Pedulli, Gian Franco; Perocco, Paolo; Cantelli-Forti, Giorgio; Legator, Marvin S (2003). "β-Carotene: a cancer chemopreventive agent or a co-carcinogen?". Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research. 543 (3): 195–200. doi:10.1016/S1383-5742(03)00002-4. PMID 12787812.
  5. Dragsted, Lars Ove; Strube, M; Larsen, JC (1993). "Cancer-Protective Factors in Fruits and Vegetables: Biochemical and Biological Background". Pharmacology & Toxicology. 72 (Suppl 1): 116–35. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0773.1993.tb01679.x. PMID 8474974.
  6. "IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans." IARC Monographs- Classifications. <http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php>
  7. Liu, S. (2005). Effects of arsenic on DNA repair and cell checkpoints involvement in arsenic co-mutagenesis and co-carcinogenesis. Cincinnati, Ohio: University of Cincinnati.
  8. Loeb L A, Harris C C Cancer Res 2008;68:6863-6872
  9. "DNA and RNA Tumor Viruses." DNA and RNA Tumor Viruses. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2014. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/lecture/retro.htm
  10. Holick, C. N. (2002). "Dietary Carotenoids, Serum beta-Carotene, and Retinol and Risk of Lung Cancer in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cohort Study". American Journal of Epidemiology. 156 (6): 536–547. doi:10.1093/aje/kwf072. PMID 12226001.
  11. Tanvetyanon, T; Bepler, G (July 2008). "Beta-carotene in multivitamins and the possible risk of lung cancer among smokers versus former smokers: a meta-analysis and evaluation of national brands". Cancer. 113 (1): 150–7. doi:10.1002/cncr.23527. PMID 18429004.
  12. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride (1997); Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline (1998); Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamine E, Selenium, and Carotenoids (2000); Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc (2001); and Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D (2011).
  13. Mckiernan, F. E.; Wiley, C. (2008). "Vitamin D, Vitamin D, and the Tolerable Upper Intake Level". Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 23 (12): 2060–2061. doi:10.1359/jbmr.080801. PMID 18684090.
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