Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine (Oct 2025)

Anthracosis, epidemiology, gene and cancer: An updated mini-review

  • Sahar Defaee,
  • Fatemeh Khajavi-Mayvan,
  • MohammadHosein Sheybani-Arani,
  • Minoo Montazeri,
  • Elham Barahimi,
  • Ali Salimi Asl

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 20 – 27

Abstract

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Background: It is believed that anthracosis is one of the most important occupational diseases, mainly seen in the residents of industrial areas and coal mine workers. This bronchial disease is more common in Asia's rural areas, particularly in the Middle East. In this study, we examined the epidemiology and genetic factors affecting this disease and its relationship with different types of cancer. Methods: In this review article, we searched four databases (Pubmed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase and Scopus) up to June 3, 2022, for published articles on anthracosis, epidemiology, gene, and cancer. Non-published studies, studies not published in indexed journals or without peer review, and studies not available in English were all excluded. Results: The relationship between this disease and tobacco, smoking, air pollution, mycobacterium tuberculosis, gender, and indoor smoke was researched, and its prevalence was cited. Mutations in tumour suppressor genes such as P16 and P53 and expression levels of P16, CDH1, LUNX and RASSF1A genes were researched. Finally, this article discussed the relationship between anthracosis and cancers. Conclusions: According to the studied literature, antracotic people are more susceptible to pulmonary adenocarcinoma, hepatic nodules, renal cell carcinoma, and esophageal cancer.

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