| Summary: | The chemical nature of most of the mycotoxins
makes them highly liposoluble compounds that can be
absorbed from the site of exposure such as from the gastrointestinal
and respiratory tract to the blood stream where it
can be dissimilated throughout the body and reach different
organs such as the liver and kidneys. Mycotoxins have a strong
tendency and ability to penetrate the human and animal cells
and reach the cellular genome where it causes a major mutagenic
change in the nucleotide sequence which leads to strong
and permanent defects in the genome. This defect will eventually
be transcribed, translated and lead to the development
of cancer. In this review, the chemical and physical nature of
mycotoxins, the action of mycotoxins on the cellular genome
and its effect on humans, mycotoxins and their carcinogenicity
and mycotoxins research gaps are discussed, and new research
areas are suggested. The research review posed various questions.
What are the different mycotoxins that can cause cancer,
what is the role of mycotoxins in causing cancer and what
types of cancers can be caused by mycotoxins? These questions
have been selected due to the significant increase in the
mycotoxin contamination and the cancer incidence rate in the
contemporary world. By revealing and understanding the role
of mycotoxins in developing cancer, measures to reduce the
risks and incidents of cancer could be taken.
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