shitivseen

shitivseen t1_j4ztb9y wrote

They would all be probable causes. Carcinogenicity usually just means that certain substances cause cells to undergo mutations, which could then possibly lead to cancer. However some substances are known to cause specific types of cancer due to the nature of how and where we are exposed to them i.e. skin, lungs, systematic, etc.. Certain chemicals also accumulate in different tissues and would be more likely to cause cancer there. Others get metabolized by the liver and only turn carcinogenic then and there.

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shitivseen t1_j4zrnbl wrote

To clarify: The vast majority of genetic mutations do not cause cancer. Only when the mutation alters the function of tumor suppressor or pro-oncogenic genes the risk of cancer increases. Additionally there are pathways cells can utilize to prevent cancer development even if a single one mutates. A rule of thumb is that six of these specific genes need to be mutated to actually cause cancer (this can vary of course).

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