Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental heavy metal pollutant which causes increasing worldwide concern. In the general population, exposure to cadmium occurs primarily through dietary sources, cigarette smok-ing, and drinking water. Cadmium has been classified as a human carcinogen by the international agency for re-search on cancer (IARC). In 1993, its carcinogenicity has been long established;most evidence is available for ele-vated risk for lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, gastroenteric cancer and so on. But the underlying mecha-nisms of cadmium carcinogenesis are still not clear. Many studies have been demonstrated that Cd induces cancer by multiple mechanisms:induction of oxidative stress, inhibition of DNA damage repair as well as apoptosis, aber-rant methylation and gene expression, resulting in cell cycle arrest, as a metalloestrogen, promotion of cancer stem cell growth and induction of cancer via chronic inflammation. This review summarizes the recent advances in the carcinogenic mechanism of cadmium on the molecular medicine level.%镉是一种无处不在的重金属环境污染物，广泛用于工业环境中。普通人主要通过摄食、吸烟及饮水等方式摄入镉。1993年国际肿瘤研究机构(IARC)就已将镉及其化合物列为第1类人致癌物，镉的致癌性被广泛研究，大量研究发现镉会提高肺癌、前列腺癌、乳腺癌、消化道肿瘤等肿瘤的患病风险。但至目前为止，镉的致癌分子机制尚不清楚。大量研究认为镉通过以下几方面致癌：氧化应激、抑制DNA损伤修复、DNA异常甲基化、抑制细胞凋亡、影响细胞周期调控、致多种基因异常表达、雌激素样效应、促进肿瘤干细胞生长、慢性炎症刺激。
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