Environmental Factors, Genes, and the Development of Human Cancers
Cancer is a complex disease. Only 5-10% of human cancers are hereditary in nature. Many of us think of environmental agents when we think of carcinogens. The environment includes all that surrounds us, and environmental influences include not only chemica
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Deodutta Roy · M. Tevfik Dorak Editors
Environmental Factors, Genes, and the Development of Human Cancers
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Editors Deodutta Roy Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Florida International University Miami, FL 33199-0001, USA [email protected]
M. Tevfik Dorak Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Florida International University Miami, FL 33199-0001, USA [email protected]
ISBN 978-1-4419-6751-0 e-ISBN 978-1-4419-6752-7 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-6752-7 Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London Library of Congress Control Number: 2010933752 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of going to press, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
Cancer is a complex disease. Only 5–10% of human cancers are hereditary in nature. Many of us think of environmental agents when we think of carcinogens. The environment includes all that surrounds us, and environmental influences include not only chemical, physical and biological toxicants, but also diet and lifestyle. In this broadest sense, the environment contributes substantially in the development of human cancer. Now everyone accepts the role of the environment in causation of cancer but there seems to be an unnecessary struggle to divide the roles of genes and environment as if they are distinct contributors. The ongoing “nature versus nurture” argument is unproductive. Genes and environmental factors work in concert to protect from or to cause cancer and there is no need to worry about the proportion of their relative contribution. There are lessons to be learned from the classic example of phenylketonuria (PKU). In this monogenic disorder, no harm is possible unless the environmental element is involved. One other aspect missing in the current discussions is the spatial and temporal continuity and variability of environmental e
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