Carbon Nanotubes Induce Malignant Transformation and Tumorigenesis of Human Lung Epithelial Cells

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 11; no. 7; pp. 2796 - 2803
• Main Authors: Wang, Liying, Luanpitpong, Sudjit, Castranova, Vincent, Tse, William, Lu, Yongju, Pongrakhananon, Varisa, Rojanasakul, Yon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 13.07.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Carcinogenicity; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Exact sciences and technology; Human; Humans; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lungs; Materials science; Mice; Mice, Nude; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Particle Size; Physics; Single wall carbon nanotubes; Surface Properties; Transformations; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; lung; apoptosis; carcinogenesis; malignant transformation; Single-walled carbon nanotubes; Carbon nanotubes; Singlewalled nanotube; Tumor cells; Carbon; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl2011214

Carcinogenicity of carbon nanotubes is a major concern but has not been well addressed due to the lack of experimental models. Here, we show that chronic exposure to single-walled carbon nanotubes causes malignant transformation of human lung epithelial cells. The transformed cells induce tumorigenesis in mice and exhibit an apoptosis resistant phenotype characteristic of cancer cells. This study provides new evidence for carbon nanotube-induced carcinogenesis and indicates the potential role of p53 in the process.