CARCINOGENESIS AS A STOCHASTIC PHENOMENON: THE ROLE OF REPLICATIVE RANDOMNESS AND THE INFLUENCE OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze carcinogenesis as a stochastic phenomenon, specifically investigating the contribution of replicative randomness and its interplay with genetic and environmental determinants in cancer development. To achieve this, the methodology employed was an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach, selecting publications indexed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases between 2016 and 2026. Analysis of the ten eligible studies revealed that, although intrinsic errors in DNA replication act as sources of mutations, genetic factors, epigenetic modifications, chronic inflammation, and environmental stressors are crucial in driving cellular transformation and tumor progression. Finally, the research concludes that the onset of the disease is not determined solely by the randomness of cellular replication, but rather by the complex, multifactorial synergy between failures in biological repair mechanisms and the organism's external exposures.