Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 100 Haven Avenue, Tower 3, #25F, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Environ Health. 2011 Apr 5;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S5. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-10-S1-S5.
Molecular Epidemiology was originally conceived as a preventive approach, providing a valuable tool for investigating risk factors for cancer in vulnerable populations. Biomarkers can be used as early indicators of risk for preventative purposes and risk assessment. The present contribution mainly refers to in utero exposures to carcinogens, since humans are especially vulnerable during fetal development. Environmental exposures in utero can increase risks for both childhood and adult cancers; their interactions with genetic and nutritional susceptibility factors may further increase risk. Thus, the early developmental period represents an important window for cancer prevention.
分子流行病学最初被设想为一种预防方法,为研究易患人群癌症的危险因素提供了有价值的工具。生物标志物可用作预防性目的和风险评估的早期风险指标。本研究主要涉及致癌物质的宫内暴露,因为人类在胎儿发育期间特别脆弱。宫内环境暴露会增加儿童期和成年期癌症的风险;它们与遗传和营养易感性因素的相互作用可能会进一步增加风险。因此,早期发育阶段是癌症预防的重要窗口。