Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity: human reproductive cancer and risk factors

Many chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, are known to produce various toxicities such as developmental or reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity; this chapter discusses mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis due to exposure to endocrine disruptors may be associated with free radical generation and biomolecule (e.g., DNA, protein, lipid) damage after the dysregulation of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, thyroid and insulin. Each subtype of ovarian carcinoma has different clinical characteristics, biological behaviors and responses to chemotherapy. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. It is a common gynecological disorder as well as a major cause of infertility. It also addresses vaginal cancer, testicular cancer and prostate cancer. The fact that epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in endocrine disruption helps to explain the transgenerational effects of chemicals. The epigenetic mechanism involves the alteration of DNA in the germ line that appears to transmit transgenerational adult-onset disease, including spermatogenic defects, prostate disease, kidney disease and cancer. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis due to exposure to endocrine disruptors may be associated with free radical generation and biomolecule (e.g., DNA, protein, lipid) damage after the dysregulation of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, thyroid and insulin.