Experimental studies on lung carcinogenesis and their relationship to future research on radiation-induced lung cancer in humans

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6100497

Cross, F T

The usefulness of experimental systems for studying human lung carcinogenesis lies in the ease of studying components of a total problem. As an example, the main thrust of attack on possible synergistic interactions between radiation, cigarette smoke, and other irritants must be by means of research on animals. Because animals can be serially sacrificed, a systematic search can be made for progressive lung changes, thereby improving our understanding of carcinogenesis. The mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis have not yet been delineated, but modern concepts of molecular and cellular biology and of radiation dosimetry are being increasingly applied to both in vivo and in vitro exposure to determine the mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis, to elucidate human data, and to aid in extrapolating experimental animal data to human exposures. In addition, biologically based mathematical models of carcinogenesis are being developed to describe the nature of the events leading to malignancy; they are also an essential part of a rational approach to quantitative cancer risk assessment. This paper summarizes recent experimental and modeling data on radon-induced lung cancer and includes the confounding effects of cigarette-smoke exposures. The applicability of these data to understanding human exposures is emphasized, and areas of future research on human radiation-induced carcinogenesis are discussed. 7 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6100497
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-18927; CONF-9103140--1; ON: DE91009145
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560161 -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Man
560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOGENESIS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COLLOIDS
DATA
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSIMETRY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
EXTRAPOLATION
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MUTATIONS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
RATS
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
SMOKES
SOLS
SYNERGISM
TOBACCO SMOKES
VERTEBRATES