Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
  • 2 Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
  • 4 The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
  • 5 Biological department, Faculty of Science, University of Sana'a, Yemen
  • 6 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science & Technology, University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
  • 7 Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China. Electronic address: zeyaotang@163.com
Mutat Res, 2024;829:111883.
PMID: 39265237 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2024.111883

Abstract

The integrity of the genetic material in human cells is continuously challenged by environmental agents and endogenous stresses. Among these, environmental carcinogens are pivotal in initiating complex DNA lesions that can lead to malignant transformations if not properly repaired. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular dynamics of DNA repair mechanisms and their interplay with various environmental carcinogens, providing a comprehensive overview of how these interactions contribute to cancer initiation and progression. We examine key DNA repair pathways including base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and double-strand break repair and their regulatory networks, highlighting how defects in these pathways can exacerbate carcinogen-induced damage. Further, we discuss how understanding these molecular interactions offers novel insights into potential therapeutic strategies. This includes leveraging synthetic lethality concepts and designing targeted therapies that exploit specific DNA repair vulnerabilities in cancer cells. By integrating recent advances in molecular biology, genetics, and oncology, this review aims to illuminate the complex landscape of DNA repair and carcinogen-induced carcinogenesis, setting the stage for future research and therapeutic innovations.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.