IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC ...

aspect of all the various proposed mechanisms of action of fumonisin B 1, including its
mechanism of carcinogenicity.
Fumonisin B 1-induced disruption of sphingolipid, phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism
is observed both in vitro and in vivo in all animal models and in a single human
study. Disruption of sphingolipid metabolism by fumonisin B 1 in animal and human
systems in vitro causes cell death and regenerative cell proliferation mediated through
sphingolipid signalling pathways. The kinetics of the increases and decreases in the
various bioactive sphingolipid pools in liver, kidney, lung and heart are correlated with
the observed toxicity.
5.5 Evaluation
There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of fumonisins.
There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of
fumonisin B 1.
Overall evaluation
FUMONISIN B 1
Fumonisin B 1 is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
6. References
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