Co-carcinogen
A co-carcinogen is a substance that, while not necessarily carcinogenic on its own, can promote the effects of a carcinogen in the development of cancer. Co-carcinogens can enhance the carcinogenicity of other substances by various mechanisms, including increasing the absorption of the carcinogen, altering its metabolism, or affecting the body's immune system.
Mechanisms of Action[edit | edit source]
Co-carcinogens can act through several mechanisms:
- **Metabolic Activation**: Some co-carcinogens can increase the metabolic activation of procarcinogens into their active carcinogenic forms. For example, certain enzymes in the liver can convert procarcinogens into active carcinogens.
- **Inhibition of DNA Repair**: Co-carcinogens can inhibit the DNA repair mechanisms, making it more likely for mutations to accumulate and lead to cancer.
- **Immune Suppression**: By suppressing the immune system, co-carcinogens can reduce the body's ability to detect and destroy cancerous cells.
- **Inflammation**: Chronic inflammation caused by co-carcinogens can create an environment conducive to cancer development.
Examples of Co-carcinogens[edit | edit source]
- **Alcohol**: Alcohol is a well-known co-carcinogen that can enhance the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke, particularly in cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus.
- **Asbestos**: Asbestos fibers can act as co-carcinogens by promoting the effects of other carcinogens, such as those found in cigarette smoke, leading to lung cancer and mesothelioma.
- **Certain Chemicals**: Chemicals like arsenic and formaldehyde can act as co-carcinogens by enhancing the effects of other carcinogens.
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
- Carcinogenesis: The process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells.
- Mutagen: An agent that causes genetic mutation.
- Oncogene: A gene that has the potential to cause cancer.
- Tumor Suppressor Gene: A gene that protects a cell from one step on the path to cancer.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This article is a Carcinogen-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
