How do materials like asbestos cause cancer?

Submitted by Qazpaz_G t3_10g2rqz in askscience

From my understanding, cancer is our own cells with a genetic mutation that causes abnormal growth. How do materials and minerals like asbestos make that genetic change?

When I try and research it, all I get are articles linking it to cancer or explains how it causes cancer by inhalation without explaining the mechanism behind it.

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TimeSpaceGeek t1_j54h9wk wrote

So the short version is that the fibres don't cause mutation in DNA directly, so much as they damage cells in such a way that mutation becomes far more likely. DNA in a cell is contained primarily in the cell's nucleus. If the cell becomes damaged sufficiently to damage that, it can cause it to heal wrong. This can cause things like cell inflammation, which itself can damage cell DNA if it persists over a protracted period, and cause cancer over time that way. That's one element.

But another, more particular element is one of damaging our cancer prevention. IIRC, one of the things Asbestos does is damage immune cells particularly. Your body develops cells that might well progress toward cancer all the time. Tiny little growths of damaged cells appear semi-regularly in Human bodies, but are very quickly dealt with by the immune system, which hunts them down and destroys them before they grow much more than a few cells too large. It's why Immunology is proving to be a very promising cancer treatment for a lot of cancers, and it's also one of the reasons why immune-compromised people, such as people with HIV or AIDs, are at more risk of cancer as a secondary complication. And in the same way, Asbestos fibres can damage some of the immune cells whose job it is to destroy these early cancerous cells, preventing them from doing their job, and making cancer more likely.

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Qazpaz_G OP t1_j552yhh wrote

I believe this is a perfect exploration, and makes logical sense to me. I never thought about the fact that it simply creates an environment prone to mutations rather then directly damaging it such as radiation or unstable molecules do.

Thanks for the explanation!

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RatticusFlinch t1_j5mj6qs wrote

This is such a great explanation for carcinogens. I was excited to answer this question but you've done a perfect job. Do you work in a biology related field by chance?

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TimeSpaceGeek t1_j5uabrd wrote

Very kind of you to say, and glad I did a good job!

I don't, I'm just a well read and... I guess you could call me an 'enthusiastic amateur'? I do a lot of reading on a lot of scientific subjects, try to keep up on the latest knowledge, and am pretty good at comprehending what I've read and translating it, but despite considering it for a while when I was young, I've not actually gone into scientific work.

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Beautiful_Fee1655 t1_j54bq7y wrote

I think this is the sort of detailed explanation of the mechanism behind asbestos-induced carcinoma that you are looking for.

"Asbestos-Induced Cellular and Molecular Alteration of Immunocompetent Cells and Their Relationship with Chronic Inflammation and Carcinogenesis"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3304550/

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KauaiCat t1_j585js2 wrote

The immune system attempts to clear asbestos from the lungs (but isn't able to very well) and in doing so creates a lot of damage. The process the body uses releases a lot of reactive oxygen species (which damage DNA).

Asbestos is present in the natural environment and in industrial uses and as a result we all have asbestos fibers in our lungs which cause damage, but a little damage is not enough to cause problems. It's those who have regular high exposure over many years in the occupational setting who will develop problems.

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MARINE-BOY t1_j59faj4 wrote

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can become lodged in the lungs and other organs. Over time, these fibers can cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs and other organs, leading to the development of cancer. The fibers can also cause genetic mutations in cells, which can lead to the development of cancer. The risk of developing cancer from asbestos exposure increases with the amount of asbestos fibers inhaled and the duration of exposure.

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