Introduction

Abstract

The interplay between genetic variants and environmental factors determines the phenotype, and therefore, their joint consideration is more likely to yield the true estimate of the cancer risk. This chapter attempts to introduce some of the fundamental challenges-related to the basic principles of the environment and gene-environment interactions in cancer susceptibility. The comprehensive understanding of the environment and interaction between genes and environment for development of each specific type of human cancer is needed for better assessing risk factors and prevention of the cancers. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.