Global Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Chemical Carcinogenesis

Exposure to the chemical compounds that can induce varying effects, ranging from instant mortality to a gradual process of progression of carcinogenesis is called as Chemical Carcinogenesis. The stages involved in carcinogenesis normally are initiation, promotion and progression which are characterised by structural and functional modifications and result from genetic and/or epigenetic alterations/ Changes. These genetic modifications include mutations in genes that control cell proliferation, cell death and DNA repair and proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressing genes. The epigenetic factors, which are considered as being non-genetic in character, can also contribute to carcinogenesis via epigenetic mechanisms which silence gene expression