Carcinogenicity

Carcinogenicity is the capacity of an agent or exposure to cause cancer under specified conditions. It depends on factors such as dose, route, duration, and the organism exposed.

DNA damage: An alteration to DNA’s chemical structure or sequence that can disrupt replication or gene function. Many carcinogens initiate cancer by creating DNA lesions that escape repair.
Carcinogen: An agent or exposure capable of causing cancer under specified conditions. Carcinogenicity describes the property that makes an agent a carcinogen.
Cancer risk: The probability that a person or population will develop cancer over a specified period. Carcinogenicity is a hazard property; risk also depends on actual exposure.
Threshold model: A model in which an effect occurs only after exposure exceeds a defined level. Whether cancer-causing effects have thresholds remains relevant to low-dose assessment.
Mutagenesis: The process by which genetic changes arise, including changes caused by replication errors or mutagens. Mutations can fix carcinogen-induced DNA damage into lasting changes.
Carcinogen classification: The grouping of agents by the strength and type of evidence that they can cause cancer. Classification systems translate evidence about carcinogenicity into comparable categories.
Carcinogenic hazard: The potential of an agent to cause cancer, without specifying the likelihood of harm at a particular exposure. Hazard expresses potential, while risk estimates consequences under defined exposure conditions.
Linear no-threshold model: A model that assumes cancer risk rises proportionally with dose down to zero exposure. It offers one approach to estimating risk when low-dose human data are unavailable.
Oncogene: A gene whose activation or overexpression can drive abnormal cell growth. Some carcinogens activate growth-promoting genes that contribute to tumor formation.
Toxicology: The study of harmful effects of chemicals and other agents on living organisms. Carcinogenicity assessment is one part of evaluating an agent’s toxicity.

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