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Printer Friendly Print Exposure to organic dissolvents may cause carcinogenic mutations

Exposure to organic dissolvents may cause carcinogenic mutations

February 11, 2002

A study led by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona researchers has shown that exposure to hydrocarbon-based organic dissolvents may provoke mutations in the k-ras oncogen, a gene which facilitates the appearance of tumours when it has mutated. The relationship has been demonstrated in pancreatic cancer patients who had been exposed to the dissolvents in the workplace.

The researchers studied the relationship between exposure to organic dissolvents at work and k-ras mutations in a total of 107 pancreatic cancer patients. Between 19% and 29% of the 83 cases presenting mutation of the k-ras gene had been exposed to organic dissolvents. The percentage fell to between 4% and 25% in those not presenting k-ras mutation.




The difference in percentages depends to a large extent on the type of test employed to evaluate the workplace exposure to dissolvents, but the conclusion of the research, the first to study this relationship, is that exposure to organic dissolvents is associated with the k-ras mutations in pancreatic cancer. Precisely because it is the first international study of these characteristics, the researchers point out that further studies are needed to confirm (or refute) their findings, before measures can be taken to protect public health.

The study indicates that the k-ras gene mutations provoked by the dissolvents are produced indirectly; that is, either by stimulating the activity of the enzymes which promote the carcinogenic action which lead to the mutations, or by promoting the growth of the cells containing the mutated gene.

Cancer of the pancreas is one of the main causes of mortality in the West. The risk factors include old age, being a male, smoking and environmental exposure to carcinogenic substances. Not only does the k-ras gene play a direct role in the appearance of pancreatic cancer: of all forms of human cancer, it is the one which most frequently presents acquired (as opposed to hereditary) mutations.

Hydrocarbon-based dissolvents, such as benzene and aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated compounds, are widely used in the chemical, mechanical, footwear, construction, and cleaning industries and also in many other industrial processes for gluing, degreasing, painting, lubricating and cleansing.

The research, reported in Carcinogenesis, was directed by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona teachers Miquel Porta and Joan Alguacil. The other researchers included representatives from five Spanish hospitals, the Institut Municipal d'Investigaci'ł Me'dica de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the National Cancer Institute (USA), and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health of Helsinki (Finland).

Barcelona, Universitat AutÃ˛noma de



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