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Genetic alterations and cancer formation in a European flatfish at sites of different contamination burdens

Lerebours, Adelaide; Stentiford, Grant; Bignell, John P.; Lyons, Brett P.; Derocles, Stephane A. P.; Rotchell, Jeanette

Authors

Adelaide Lerebours

Grant Stentiford

John P. Bignell

Brett P. Lyons

Stephane A. P. Derocles



Abstract

Fish diseases are an indicator for marine ecosystem health since they provide a biological end-point of historical exposure to stressors. Liver cancer has been used to monitor the effects of exposure to anthropogenic pollution in flatfish for many years. The prevalence of liver cancer can exceed 20%. Despite the high prevalence and the opportunity of using flatfish to study environmentally induced cancer, the genetic and environmental factors driving tumor prevalence across sites are poorly understood. This study aims to define the link between genetic deterioration, liver disease progression, and anthropogenic contaminant exposures in the flatfish dab (Limanda limanda). We assessed genetic changes in a conserved cancer gene, Retinoblastoma (Rb), in association with histological diagnosis of normal, pretumor, and tumor pathologies in the livers of 165 fish from six sites in the North Sea and English Channel. The highest concentrations of metals (especially cadmium) and organic chemicals correlated with the presence of tumor pathology and with defined genetic profiles of the Rb gene, from these sites. Different Rb genetic profiles were found in liver tissue near each tumor phenotype, giving insight into the mechanistic molecular-level cause of the liver pathologies. Different Rb profiles were also found at sampling sites of differing contaminant burdens. Additionally, profiles indicated that histological “normal” fish from Dogger sampling locations possessed Rb profiles associated with pretumor disease. This study highlights an association between Rb and specific contaminants (especially cadmium) in the molecular etiology of dab liver tumorigenesis.

Citation

Lerebours, A., Stentiford, G., Bignell, J. P., Lyons, B. P., Derocles, S. A. P., & Rotchell, J. (2014). Genetic alterations and cancer formation in a European flatfish at sites of different contamination burdens. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(17), 10448-10455. https://doi.org/10.1021/es502591p

Acceptance Date Aug 7, 2014
Online Publication Date Aug 21, 2014
Publication Date Sep 2, 2014
Deposit Date Apr 29, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Environmental science and technology
Print ISSN 0013-936X
Electronic ISSN 1520-5851
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 48
Issue 17
Pages 10448-10455
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/es502591p
Keywords Fish, Liver cancer, Retinoblastoma gene, Genetic changes, Contaminants
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/437459
Publisher URL http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es502591p
Additional Information This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Environmental science and technology, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es502591p

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Copyright Statement
© American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher





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