Aflatoxin, Tobacco, Ammonia and the p53 Tumor-Suppressor Gene: Cancer's Missing Link?

Aflatoxin, the fungal carcinogen first identified in 1960, is now recognized as the prototypical laboratory carcinogen. It causes mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene as well as ras mutations, which are involved in the majority of human cancers. Aflatoxin has been shown to contaminate tobacco products. Tobacco-related cancers, including those associated with ETS, often show the same p53 mutations associated with aflatoxin exposure. The role of ammonia in neutralizing aflatoxin contamination is examined, as well as the potential role of the FDA in regulating aflatoxin contamination of tobacco products.