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Measuring the exposome: A powerful basis for evaluating environmental exposures and cancer risk
Author(s) -
Wild Christopher P.,
Scalbert Augustin,
Herceg Zdenko
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.21777
Subject(s) - exposome , biobank , context (archaeology) , epigenomics , epigenome , environmental epidemiology , biology , genomics , disease , omics , computational biology , environmental health , bioinformatics , medicine , genetics , pathology , dna methylation , genome , paleontology , gene expression , gene
Advances in laboratory sciences offer much in the challenge to unravel the complex etiology of cancer and to therefore provide an evidence‐base for prevention. One area where improved measurements are particularly important to epidemiology is exposure assessment; this requirement has been highlighted through the concept of the exposome. In addition, the ability to observe genetic and epigenetic alterations in individuals exposed to putative risk factors also affords an opportunity to elucidate underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis, which in turn may allow earlier detection and more refined molecular classification of disease. In this context the application of omics technologies to large population‐based studies and their associated biobanks raise exciting new avenues of research. This review considers the areas of genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics and metabolomics and the evidence to date that people exposed to well‐defined factors (for example, tobacco, diet, occupational exposures, environmental pollutants) have specific omics profiles. Although in their early stages of development these approaches show promising evidence of distinct exposure‐derived biological effects and indicate molecular pathways that may be particularly relevant to the carcinogenic process subsequent to environmental and lifestyle exposures. Such an interdisciplinary approach is vital if the full benefits of advances in laboratory sciences and investments in large‐scale prospective cohort studies are to be realized in relation to cancer prevention. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 54:480‐499, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.