Pregnancy and cancer

               
                Mikhail N.IVANOV ( KOLOKOLTSOFF )
                Professor, Doctor of Medicine, Finland

Discovery of an opportunity of progression, that is, induction of malignant growths in posterity of animals to whom substances able to cause cancer were injected during pregnancy ( the so-called “transplacental carcinogenesis”) has simultaneously raised many questions to be answered either by theoretical and/or practical medicine.

The basis of the submitted materials is made by the results our experiments and also by references to the already published materials created by other researchers. In the study of academician L.M.Shabada ( Moscow ) it has been revealed that any, even a short-term, contact with a carcinogenic substance is dangerous. The above statement is also fair for transplacental carcinogenesis. In their daily lives people, as a rule, have to face not just one but much more of  such substances. In St.-Petersburg Institute of Cancer named after professor N.N. Petrov, in laboratory “ Experimental tumours” of academician  N.P.Napalkov,  it has been proved that simultaneous  introduction of several carcinogens to animals causes not only augmentation in number of the induced growths, but also essentiale extends their range. Specific danger is represented by carcinogenic multiring hydrocarbons ( PAU ) as they are rather widely spread in natural environment. Most frequently 3,4 benz(a)pyrene is detected, the hydrolysis product of all types of fuel, exhausts, automobile combustion, aviation fuel and tobacco resins. As  it was discovered, they are capable to penetrate through placenta and to cause cancer in posterity of animals. Ferment systems even being preliminarily activated, metabolizing, i.e., decontaminating multiring hydrocarbons, are not capable to protect fetus against carcinogenic impact. Later on, data have been received  evidencing that carcinogenic hydrocarbons  may attack newborn animals, if discharged with the milk  of mother animals who received these or those carcinogens during lactemia. Carcinogenesis the etiology of which includes  ecological component it less investigated.
This seems to be quite actual nowadays, when millions of citizens live in the conditions which are not adequate to hygienic norms, when marginal content of chemicals in the air and exceed all admissible limits, when various food additives are offered for free sale, and not all of which have been tested for carcinogenic ( ability to cause cancer ), embryotoxic ( death of embrio ) and
teratogenic ( teratism ) action.

Recently the results of experiments have been published, proving that a rather wide-spread edible dyestuff, Red 2G ( E-128 ) with has been used in lactic desserts, meat products, confectionery products, is metabolized by liver, therefore it turns into aniline – a carcinogenic substance. That is, this substance may induce cancer in animals and humans, and to cause various  allergic reactions both in adults and children. This dyestuff has already been forbidden in the EU countries. This matter has already been much spoken of, but, unfortunately, this information has not found due comprehension. A couple of years ago, preservatives E 216 and E 217 which may change male`s hormonal balance have been forbidden for use  in many countries.

It is well-known that people suffering from diabetes and various stages of obesity, prefer to use the well-known saccharin in the from of syrups,  creams and gelatinous desserts. Moreover,
saccharin  is rather wide-spread in   food-processing industry, under the name “edible additive-
E 954 “. It is considered that regular use  of saccharin above maximum permissible daily dose leads to undesirable consequences. Saccharin and other substitutes of saccharin, for example,
Cyclamates ( E 952 ) are not recommended for use by pregnant women above maximum permissible doses, that is 11 milligrams per 1 kg of body weight per day. The other substitute of
saccharin, aspartame, having low caloric content, is also dangerous. This substance is added to drinks as substitute of saccharin. Such drinks containing  aspartame can not be kept in a warm place as aspartame gets decomposed with excretion of toxicant methanol.

Below we are representing the data on edible additives forbidden in many countries ( A. Melnikov )  :for example, for production of  ice-cream, various desserts, confectionery products, drinks, etc, the following dyestuffs were used :  Tartate (E 102 ), Yellow Quinoline ( E 104 ),
Sunset ( E 110 ),  Azorubine  (E 122 ),  Crimson dyestuff (  E 124 ), Indigo Carmine/sodium
Indigotindisulfonate ( E 132 ),   Green S ( E 142 ),  Preservatives  E 110, E 131,  E 132 were added into shrimps, puddings, canned fruit, liquors, and preservatives based on hydroxybenzene acid ( E 214,  E 215,  E 218,  E 219 ) being strong allergen, were added into lactic desserts. Rather frequently formic acid ( E 236 ) was used,  which causes chronic injury of urine ducts. It is especially dangerous for children and people of old age, and hexamethylenetetramine ( E 239 )
was added into caviar and some  sorts of cheese. Hexamethylenetetramine is an antiseptic agent, that is, the substance killing all microbes. In acidic medium it decomposes with formation of toxicant formaldehyde.

As far back as in the sixties of the last century, working for Cancer Institute in Leningrad, I found out that tobacco smoke, asphalt, resins, carbon black, products of  combustion of automobile fuel contain benzpyrene in quantities  capable to cause cancer. This substance is one of the strongest carcinogens.
We have also proved that benzpyrene injected to animals in rather small doses is capable to induce lung cancer. In posterity of the animals who received this carcinogen during pregnancy, lung tumours developed twice more often that in those animals who did not receive benzpyrene. Frequency of detecting tumours in  the other organs was 14 times higher !

Hense, it is impossible to recognize use of tobacco during pregnancy as safe. Running or even walking along highways increase the risk of development of lung cancer. Contents of fuel combustion products including benzpyrene in the air along roads in increased practically always.
Thus, in view of above-stated, we are convinced that study of ecology is currently rather actual in the sense of prevention of malignant growths.
The above facts do not solve the problem, they only designate it, specifying ways of further research, and urging us to keep healthy lifestyles, eutrophy and proper hygiene during pregnancy.