Molecular mechanisms of asbestos- and silica-induced lung cancer

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and on a worldwide basis. In the U.S., the annual deaths from lung cancer are estimated to be 161,900 in 2000. It is widely recognized that human lung cancers result from accumulated genetic damage leading to the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation or loss of tumor suppressor genes. Hereditary predispositions, age, occupational/environmental influences, nutritional status, lifestyle, exposure to infectious agents, and chemicals are known to play a role in carcinogenesis.