Alcohol, Tobacco and Cancer Nicotine and Cancer Wu W, Wong H, Yu L, Cho C Cho CH, Purohit V (eds): Alcohol, Tobacco and Cancer. Basel, Karger, 2006, pp 253-267 (DOI: 10.1159/000095077)
Abstract: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for various types of cancer. Nicotine, a major alkaloid in tobacco, is responsible for different aspects in the pathogenesis of smoking-related malignancies. Nicotine only not perpetuates smoking behavior in smokers, which results in further intake of tobacco-derived carcinogens, but also directly increases cellular mutagenic events. Current evidence also supports that nicotine can be metabolized into highly carcinogenic nitrosamines. In addition, nicotine by itself stimulates cancer cell proliferation through multiple mitogenic signaling pathways. Nicotinic stimulation also provides pro-survival signals to cancer cells such that they are more resistant to apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents or ionizing radiation. Moreover, there is evolving evidence suggesting that nicotine can stimulate tumor-associated angiogenesis, a biological process essential for tumor growth and metastasis. It has also been reported that nicotine enhances cancer cell invasiveness and weakens host cancer-killing immunity. Taken together, nicotine seems to play an important role in the initiation, promotion, and progression of smoking-related cancers. A controlled surveillance study on cancer risk of current nicotine users especially those on nicotine replacement therapy is therefore justified. |
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