Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42657254›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in oncology2026

Metal carcinogens and cancer: integrating genetic and epigenetic perspectives.

Shipra Singh, Priyanka Phogat, Luciano Saso, Shrikant Kukreti, Aparna Bansal

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shipra SinghNucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
Priyanka PhogatNucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
Luciano SasoDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Shrikant KukretiNucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
Aparna BansalNucleic Acids Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

People around the globe are affected by extensive environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals, which poses a significant threat to various health hazards, with cancer being a major concern. These toxic metals are ubiquitously found in food, air, water, and industrial, agricultural, or pharmaceutical applications. Being non-biodegradable, they accumulate in the living organism. The prolong exposure to these metals can result into hazardous effects in the many organs including respiratory problems, gastrointestinal disorders, renal issues, and skin lesions etc. Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Mercury (Hg), and Lead (Pb) are the most common heavy metals causing carcinogenicity through both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. The literature indicates that DNA damage, deregulation of gene expression, interference with cell signaling, etc., contribute to metal-induced carcinogenesis. Changes in epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs, can disturb normal cell function and may even lead to cancer. However, the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Advancements in the field have underscored the critical roles of genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in metal-induced tumor formation. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the function of metals in causing cancer, focusing on pathways such as genotoxicity, mutagenesis, epigenetic modification, and cancer-related signaling. Furthermore, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden of this disease, the targeted preventive strategies, such as reducing the emission of these toxic metals into the environment from mining to industries, or other sources, and the need for social interventions, have been discussed.

Indexed as

cancercarcinogenesisepigenetic modificationgenetic mutationtoxic metals

Identifiers

PMID42657254
PMCPMC13508166

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.