title: Molecular features in arsenic-induced lung tumors.
abstract: Arsenic is a well-known human carcinogen, which potentially affects ~160 million people worldwide via exposure to unsafe levels in drinking water. Lungs are one of the main target organs for arsenic-related carcinogenesis. These tumors exhibit particular features, such as squamous cell-type specificity and high incidence among never smokers. Arsenic-induced malignant transformation is mainly related to the biotransformation process intended for the metabolic clearing of the carcinogen, which results in specific genetic and epigenetic alterations that ultimately affect key pathways in lung carcinogenesis. Based on this, lung tumors induced by arsenic exposure could be considered an additional subtype of lung cancer, especially in the case of never-smokers, where arsenic is a known etiological agent. In this article, we review the current knowledge on the various mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenicity and the specific roles of this metalloid in signaling pathways leading to lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hubaux
authors.forename: Daiana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Becker-Santos
authors.forename: Katey Ss
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Enfield
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rowbotham
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Wan L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Victor D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic