Goldman R, Shields P G
Division of Basic Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255, USA.
In Vivo. 1998 Jan-Feb;12(1):43-8.
Molecular epidemiology evaluates cancer risk based upon environmental exposures and genetically determined susceptibilities. Biomarkers, molecular indicators of exposure or disease state, are used to stake out the progression of a disease along plausible mechanistic pathways. Connecting biomarkers of exposure, (e.g., carcinogen DNA adducts), effect (e.g., mutations in tumor suppressor genes), or disease (e.g., histological abnormalities) can clarify the etiology of cancer, improve risk estimates, and lead to better preventive strategies. In this review, the following evidence is used to evaluate the possible contribution of environmental carcinogens to breast cancer: a) genetic predispositions in familial breast cancer, b) mutational spectra of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, c) chemical carcinogenesis in breast cancer models, and d) genetic polymorphisms in sporadic breast cancer.
分子流行病学基于环境暴露和基因决定的易感性来评估癌症风险。生物标志物，即暴露或疾病状态的分子指标，被用于勾勒疾病沿着合理的机制途径的进展情况。关联暴露生物标志物（如致癌物DNA加合物）、效应生物标志物（如肿瘤抑制基因突变）或疾病生物标志物（如组织学异常），可以阐明癌症的病因，改进风险评估，并带来更好的预防策略。在本综述中，以下证据被用于评估环境致癌物对乳腺癌的可能影响：a）家族性乳腺癌中的遗传易感性，b）p53肿瘤抑制基因的突变谱，c）乳腺癌模型中的化学致癌作用，以及d）散发性乳腺癌中的基因多态性。
