2023-05-21 10:23:00
Inflammation plays a key role in everything from air pollution to lung cancer, the study found. This concept is consistent with the increasingly accepted theory of cancer promotion proposed 70 years ago; pictured in context. (picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report]The connection between air pollution and lung cancer has long been known, but what happened between the particles in the polluted air entering the lungs and the occurrence of cancer? In this regard, Xie Anmin, former director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Chicago Veterans Hospital in the United States, said that the latest research has found that “inflammation” plays an intermediary role between air pollution and lung cancer, and promotes the formation of tumors.
Xie Anmin posted on Facebook “Dr. Xie speaksThe article pointed out that an estimated 10% of lung cancers in the UK are caused by air pollution; regarding 300,000 lung cancer deaths worldwide in 2019 can be attributed to PM 2.5 air pollution. There used to be a theory that environmental carcinogens cause mutations by directly damaging DNA. However, recent data suggest that may not be the case.
‘Inflammation’ plays key role in link between air pollution and lung cancer
recently published“Nature” (Nature)Recently, a report pointed out that “inflammation” plays a key role in the link between air pollution and lung cancer. This concept is consistent with the increasingly accepted theory of cancer promotion proposed 70 years ago. According to this theory, the first step in tumorigenesis is the induction of mutations in healthy cells, which then trigger cancer development.
Xie Anmin explained that the research team for this report focused on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive lung cancer. One part analyzed data from 400,000 people (regarding 33,000 of whom had EGFR-positive lung cancer) from England, South Korea, and Taiwan. They found a strong association between PM2.5 concentrations and the incidence of this type of lung adenocarcinoma.
Substances involved in the inflammatory response flood lung tissue and contribute to tumors
Xie Anmin said that the other part is to use genetically modified mice that are prone to lung cancer. After exposure to PM2.5 pollution particles, the lungs of the mice showed evidence of inflammation: such as macrophages; and mediators involved in the inflammatory response, such as interleukins, flooded the lung tissue. This process leads to the evolution of alveolar epithelial cells that already have EGFR mutations into tumor precursor cells, contributing to tumorigenesis. And when the mice were further given anti-interleukin drugs, it was found that the pollution-induced tumors might be reduced.
As we age, there are more and more cells in lung tissue with genetic mutations. Studies have pointed out that these mutated cells are usually inactive, and will evolve into cancer cells when triggered by other conditions, such as inflammation. It shows that air pollutants do not directly affect DNA, but promote inflammatory changes in lung tissue. Inflammatory changes wake up dormant cells with cancer-causing mutations, and cancer is formed.
Xie Anmin emphasized that inflammation may also be related to other organs or types of cancer, and may also be triggered by other carcinogens. At present, we have no way to prevent cell gene mutations, especially mutations related to genetics; we also have no way to eliminate or suppress mutated cells. Lung cancer may be prevented only by reducing air pollution, or by better diagnosing and treating chronic inflammation.
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