Cold-hearted: A case for cold stress in cancer risk |
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Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain;2. Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d''Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain;3. LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;4. Laboratory of Soil Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;5. Physics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;6. Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain |
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Abstract: | A negative correlation exists between environmental temperature and cancer risk based on both epidemiological and statistical analyses. Previously, cold stress was reported to be an effective cause of tumorigenesis. Several studies have demonstrated that cold temperature serves as a potential risk factor in cancer development. Most recently, a link was demonstrated between the effects of extreme cold climate on cancer incidence, pinpointing its impact on tumour suppressor genes by causing mutation. The underlying mechanism behind cold stress and its association with tumorigenesis is not well understood. Hence, this review intends to shed light on the role of associated factors, genetic and/or non-genetic, which are modulated by cold temperature, and eventually influence tumorigenic potential. While scrutinizing the effect of cold exposure on the body, the expression of certain genes, e.g. uncoupled proteins and heat-shock proteins, were elevated. Biological chemicals such as norepinephrine, thyroxine, and cholesterol were also elevated. Brown adipose tissue, which plays an essential role in thermogenesis, displayed enhanced activity upon cold exposure. Adaptive measures are utilized by the body to tolerate the cold, and in doing so, invites both epigenetic and genetic changes. Unknowingly, these adaptive strategies give rise to a lethal outcome i.e., genesis of cancer. Concisely, this review attempts to draw a link between cold stress, genetic and epigenetic changes, and tumorigenesis and aspires to ascertain the mechanism behind cold temperature-mediated cancer risk. |
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Keywords: | Cold stress Cancer Epigenetics Genetics Brown adipose tissue Thermogenesis |
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