Environmental exposure and cancer prevention in the Czech Republic

Czech version

Authors: E. J. Price
Authors‘ workplace: RECETOX, PřF MU, Brno
Published in: Klin Onkol 2026; 39(Supplementum 1): 46-48
Category: Review
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/ccko2026S46

Overview

Cancer risk is predominantly shaped by environmental exposures interacting with genetic susceptibility, yet modifiable non-genetic determinants remain insufficiently characterised. The human exposome framework promotes a comprehensive, life-course approach to studying chemical, biological, and physical exposures alongside socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, but it is underutilised in cancer research. Systematically mapping biomarkers of exposure to each hallmark of cancer could provide a powerful strategy to identify modifiable risk factors with translational relevance. Czechia, with its pronounced geographic variation in cancer incidence and strong research infrastructure, provides an ideal setting to pioneer such “functional exposomics” approaches. Integrating these methods into cancer research could help identify actionable environmental drivers and generate mechanistic insights to advance precision cancer prevention.

Keywords:

human exposome – precision prevention – modifiable environmental exposures

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