New research into Diesel Fume Cancer Risk

Friday 01 April 2005

Research led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research on a newly discovered chemical in diesel exhaust fumes, may provide a way to examine how lung damage leading to cancer may be caused by diesel fumes, using this chemical as a marker of exposure.

The research, led by scientists at The Institute funded by Cancer Research UK, on the chemical, called 3-NBA, in human liver cells has demonstrated that it is activated by an enzyme called NQO1 which is found in most human tissues. Through activation by this enzyme and with the further assistance of other enzymes, 3-NBA forms a bond with the DNA  which can lead to genetic damage, an early step in the cancer process.

This reaction between 3-NBA and enzymes in human liver cells will allow further work to examine the effect of diesel exhaust on human lungs using 3-NBA as a marker.

3-Nitrobenzathrone (3-NBA) is a recently discovered compound in diesel exhaust which seems to be largely absent from other sources of airborne pollution. The main metabolite of 3-NBA has been found in urine samples of salt-mine workers who are exposed through their work to diesel emissions, demonstrating that human exposure to 3-NBA in diesel emissions can be significant and is detectable.

Professor David Phillips of The Institute of Cancer Research said: ‘Diesel exhaust is a suspected cause of human cancer. This study is an important step towards discovering how, and whether there is a direct link to lung DNA damage from diesel fumes. Additional research at The Institute is being conducted to investigate this compound further.’

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For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Emma Hayes
The Institute of Cancer Research
Tel: 020 7153 5312
Email: [email protected]

Notes to editors

• This research is published in Cancer Research on April 1st 2005.

• The research, led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research funded by Cancer Research UK, involved international collaboration with other scientific institutions. These institutions were the Department of Biochemistry, Charles University, Prague; Cancer Research UK Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Biomedical Research Centre, Dundee; and Division of Molecular Toxicology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg.

• NQO1 is an abbreviation of NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase.

• The Institute of Cancer Research is a centre of excellence with some of the world’s leading scientists working on cutting edge projects. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

• The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is a highly cost-effective major cancer research organisation with over 90p in every £ directly supporting research.