title: Co-carcinogens of the initiation-(or tumor)promoter type as environmental risk factors of cancer in man, experimental analysis of an etiologic model situation of life style cancer and current problems of assessment of cancer risk in multifactorial carcinogenesis.
abstract: The identification of so-called co-carcinogens i.e. "per se essentially non-carcinogenic amplifiers" of carcinogenesis - especially promoters of initiation(or tumors) - as a new, non-classical group of risk factors has added a new dimension to the etiology of cancer in man. Indeed, in real human life, multifactorial causation of cancer may be considered the rule and classical unifactorial causation the exception. This comprehensive and current concept of the etiology of cancer in man and certain prototype experimental models of multifactorial carcinogenesis allow for proposals of a standardized terminology which may be adequate for common use in both, experimental and epidemiological oncology. On the background of a recent experimental analysis of life style esophageal cancer the current situation regarding the scientific basis of classification and grading of carcinogenic risk factors will be reviewed. It may be helpful in legislation aiming at more environmental safety.
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D004032:Diet; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D009427:Netherlands Antilles; D010944:Plants; D012306:Risk; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental