Asbestos Exposure and Lung Carcinogenesis: Mechanism and Applications

Abstract

Use of asbestos was very common in industries for manufacturing, mining, and construction Silicates have 2 types including amphibole and serpentine fibers according to their morphology. The amphiboles are rigid, straight, needlelike fibers where crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite are the major types Chrysotile is the only type with a commercial importance today which has curly, pliable fibers.5 Exposure to asbestos dust can occur via two major sources either with the primary occupations as a result of asbestos processing and mining or secondary occupations like shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing (textile, insulation, gaskets). Asbestos is an important public health problem which is associated with severe diseases, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and fibrosis. Although it has been banned in several countries, some are still producing or using. Asbestos exposure has shown to have broad effects on regulatory pathways. The incidence of the related diseases are increasing in the recent years. Due to the very limited efficacy of the therapies, prognosis is unfortunately quite poor. To improve early detection and diagnosis, new approaches are being required. Although some of clinical prognostic factors have been identified up to date, novel biomarkers should be taken in consideration to predict its malignancy.

Keywords: Asbestos, Asbestos Exposure, Lung Carcinogenesis.

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-6-02