Since the 1980s, chemical and cellular studies have contributed enormously to our understanding of metal-induced carcinogenesis, and many hypotheses on the role of metals in pathophysiological processes have been investigated. The conference on Molecular Mechanisms of Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis in September 2000 focused on the latest research in molecular mechanisms of metal-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis. It promoted a multidisciplinary investigative approach and included presentations from international experts in this field.