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Report on Carcinogens

Ruth M. Lunn, Dr.P.H.
Ruth M. Lunn, Dr.P.H.
Director, Report on Carcinogens
Tel 984-287-3155
Fax 301-480-2970
[email protected]
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K2-14
Durham, NC 27709

Ruth Lunn, Dr.P.H., is the director of the Office of the Report on Carcinogens. The RoC is a congressionally-mandated document, prepared on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services that lists and discusses substances that cause or are anticipated to cause cancer. Preparation of the RoC follows a formal, multi-step process that includes scientific review and opportunity for public comment. Lunn provides scientific expertise needed for the overall evaluation of substances for their potential to cause cancer in humans and is responsible for preparing the final draft of the RoC. She has worked with the RoC since 2000, initially as a staff scientist, and more recently as director. During this time, she has contributed to the preparation of numerous scientific background documents that are used in the scientific review process.

Prior to joining the RoC, Lunn's more recent research interests were molecular epidemiology studies evaluating carcinogenicity and genetic susceptibility. She completed postdoctoral work at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and received a Dr.P.H. in environmental health sciences from Columbia University, New York, New York. She also earned a M.S. in microbiology and immunology and a Master of Clinical Microbiology (M.C.M.) from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Selected Publications

  1. Lunn RM, Mehta SS, Jahnke GD, Wang A, Wolfe MS, Berridge BR. 2022. Cancer hazard evaluations for contemporary needs: Highlights from new National Toxicology Program evaluations and methodological advancements. J Natl Cancer Inst 114(11):1441-1448. [Abstract Lunn RM, Mehta SS, Jahnke GD, Wang A, Wolfe MS, Berridge BR. 2022. Cancer hazard evaluations for contemporary needs: Highlights from new National Toxicology Program evaluations and methodological advancements. J Natl Cancer Inst 114(11):1441-1448.]
  2. Samet JM, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Lunn RM, Schubauer-Berigan MK. 2022. Commentary: Role and communications of cancer hazard determinations. Carcinogenesis 43(2):79-81. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgac001. [Abstract Samet JM, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Lunn RM, Schubauer-Berigan MK. 2022. Commentary: Role and communications of cancer hazard determinations. Carcinogenesis 43(2):79-81. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgac001.]
  3. Holmgren SD, Boyles RR, Cronk RD, Duncan CG, Kwok RK, Lunn RM, Osborn KC, Thessen AE, Schmitt CP. 2021. Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(17):8985. [Abstract Holmgren SD, Boyles RR, Cronk RD, Duncan CG, Kwok RK, Lunn RM, Osborn KC, Thessen AE, Schmitt CP. 2021. Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(17):8985.]
  4. Samet JM, Chiu WA, Cogliano V, Jinot J, Kriebel D, Lunn RM, Beland FA, Bero L, Browne P, Fritschi L, Kanno J, Lachenmeier DW, Lan Q, Lasfargues G, Curieux FL, Peters S, Shubat P, Sone H, White MC, Williamson J, Yakubovskaya M, Siemiatycki J, White PA, Guyton KZ, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Hall AL, Grosse Y, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ghissassi FE, Lauby-Secretan B, Armstrong B, Saracci R, Zavadil J, Straif K, Wild CP. 2019. The IARC Monographs: Updated procedures for modern and transparent evidence synthesis in cancer hazard identification. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz169 [Online 9 September 2019]. [Abstract Samet JM, Chiu WA, Cogliano V, Jinot J, Kriebel D, Lunn RM, Beland FA, Bero L, Browne P, Fritschi L, Kanno J, Lachenmeier DW, Lan Q, Lasfargues G, Curieux FL, Peters S, Shubat P, Sone H, White MC, Williamson J, Yakubovskaya M, Siemiatycki J, White PA, Guyton KZ, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Hall AL, Grosse Y, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ghissassi FE, Lauby-Secretan B, Armstrong B, Saracci R, Zavadil J, Straif K, Wild CP. 2019. The IARC Monographs: Updated procedures for modern and transparent evidence synthesis in cancer hazard identification. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz169 [Online 9 September 2019].]
  5. Rooney AA, Cooper GS,  Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629 [Abstract Rooney AA, Cooper GS,  Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629]
  6. Cooper GS, Lunn RM, Ågerstrand M, Glenn BS, Kraft AD, Luke A, Ratcliffe JM. Study sensitivity: Evaluating the ability to detect effects in systematic reviews of chemical exposures. Environment international 2016 92-93():605-610. [Abstract Cooper GS, Lunn RM, Ågerstrand M, Glenn BS, Kraft AD, Luke A, Ratcliffe JM. Study sensitivity: Evaluating the ability to detect effects in systematic reviews of chemical exposures. Environment international 2016 92-93():605-610.]
  7. Ward, E.M., Schulte, P.A., Straif, K., Hopf, N.B., Caldwell, J.C., Carreén T., DeMarini, D.M., Fowler, B.A., Goldstein, B.D., Hemminki, K., Husgafvel, Pursiainen K., Kuempel, E., Lewtas, J., Lunn, R.M., Lynge, E., McElvenny, D.M., Muhle, H., Nakajima, T., and Robertson, L.W.; IARC Working group. Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents. Environ Health Perspect, 118(10):1355-1362, 2010. [Abstract Ward, E.M., Schulte, P.A., Straif, K., Hopf, N.B., Caldwell, J.C., Carreén T., DeMarini, D.M., Fowler, B.A., Goldstein, B.D., Hemminki, K., Husgafvel, Pursiainen K., Kuempel, E., Lewtas, J., Lunn, R.M., Lynge, E., McElvenny, D.M., Muhle, H., Nakajima, T., and Robertson, L.W.; IARC Working group. Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents. Environ Health Perspect, 118(10):1355-1362, 2010.]
  8. Brewster, A.M., Jorgensen, T.J., Ruczinski, I., Huang, H.Y., Hoffman, S., Thuita, L., Newschaffer, C., R.M. Lunn, R.M., Bell, D., and Helzlsouer, K. J., Polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XPD (Lys751Gln) and XRCC1 (Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp): relationship to breast cancer risk and familial predisposition to breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 95(1): 73-80, 2006. [Abstract Brewster, A.M., Jorgensen, T.J., Ruczinski, I., Huang, H.Y., Hoffman, S., Thuita, L., Newschaffer, C., R.M. Lunn, R.M., Bell, D., and Helzlsouer, K. J., Polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XPD (Lys751Gln) and XRCC1 (Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp): relationship to breast cancer risk and familial predisposition to breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 95(1): 73-80, 2006.]
  9. Zhang, Y-J., Chen, Y., Ahsan, H., Lunn, R.M., Chen S-Y., Lee, P-H., Chen, C-J., and Santella, R.M., Silencing of glutathione S-transferase P1 by promoter hypermethylation and its relationship to environmental chemical carcinogens in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett, 221(2):135-143, 2005.  [Abstract Zhang, Y-J., Chen, Y., Ahsan, H., Lunn, R.M., Chen S-Y., Lee, P-H., Chen, C-J., and Santella, R.M., Silencing of glutathione S-transferase P1 by promoter hypermethylation and its relationship to environmental chemical carcinogens in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett, 221(2):135-143, 2005. ]
  10. Stern, M.C., Umbach, D.M., Lunn R.M., and Taylor J.A., DNA repair gene XRCC3 codon 241 polymorphism, its interaction with smoking and XRCC1 polymorphisms, and bladder cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 11: 939-943, 2002. [Abstract Stern, M.C., Umbach, D.M., Lunn R.M., and Taylor J.A., DNA repair gene XRCC3 codon 241 polymorphism, its interaction with smoking and XRCC1 polymorphisms, and bladder cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 11: 939-943, 2002.]
  11. Duell, E.J., Millikan, R.C., Pittman, G.S., Winkel, S., Lunn, R.M., Tse, C-K J., Eaton, A., Mohrenseiser, H.W., Newman, B., and Bell, D.A., Polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 and breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 10: 217-22, 2001. [Abstract Duell, E.J., Millikan, R.C., Pittman, G.S., Winkel, S., Lunn, R.M., Tse, C-K J., Eaton, A., Mohrenseiser, H.W., Newman, B., and Bell, D.A., Polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 and breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 10: 217-22, 2001.]
  12. Lunn, R.M., Helzlsouer, K.J., Parshad, R., Sanford, K.K., and Bell, D.A, XPD polymorphisms: Effects on DNA repair proficiency. Carcinogenesis, 21: 551-555, 2000. [Abstract Lunn, R.M., Helzlsouer, K.J., Parshad, R., Sanford, K.K., and Bell, D.A, XPD polymorphisms: Effects on DNA repair proficiency. Carcinogenesis, 21: 551-555, 2000.]
  13. Lunn R.M., Langlois, R.G., Hsieh, L.L., Thompson, C.L., and Bell, D.A., XRCC1 polymorphisms: Effects on AFB1-DNA adducts and GPA variant frequency. Cancer Res., 59: 2557-2561, 1999. [Abstract Lunn R.M., Langlois, R.G., Hsieh, L.L., Thompson, C.L., and Bell, D.A., XRCC1 polymorphisms: Effects on AFB1-DNA adducts and GPA variant frequency. Cancer Res., 59: 2557-2561, 1999.]
  14. Lunn R, M., Bell, D.A., Mohler, J.A., and Taylor, J.A. Prostate cancer risk and polymorphism in 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) and steroid reductase (SRD5A2). Carcinogenesis, 20: 1727-1731, 1999. [Abstract Lunn R, M., Bell, D.A., Mohler, J.A., and Taylor, J.A. Prostate cancer risk and polymorphism in 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) and steroid reductase (SRD5A2). Carcinogenesis, 20: 1727-1731, 1999.]
  15. Suyama K., Lunn R., Smith B.L., Haller S., Expression of the Rh-related glycoprotein (Rh50). Acta Haemateol, 100: 181-186, 1998. [Abstract Suyama K., Lunn R., Smith B.L., Haller S., Expression of the Rh-related glycoprotein (Rh50). Acta Haemateol, 100: 181-186, 1998.]
  16. Lunn, R. M., Zhang, Y. J., Wang, L. Y., Chen, C. J., Lee, P. H., Lee, C. S., Tsai, W. Y., and Santella, R. M. p53 mutations, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and aflatoxin exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Cancer Res, 57: 3471-3477, 1997. [Abstract Lunn, R. M., Zhang, Y. J., Wang, L. Y., Chen, C. J., Lee, P. H., Lee, C. S., Tsai, W. Y., and Santella, R. M. p53 mutations, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and aflatoxin exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Cancer Res, 57: 3471-3477, 1997.]