Former smokers and cancer risk

2003/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Despite quitting smoking, the risk of lung cancer is high. Genetic damage caused by tobacco in lung cells, which accumulate in the next cell generation, seems to persist.

To prevent lung cancer, researchers have focused on the first signs of body alarm. One of these signals is the decreased expression of a gene, the retinoic acid receptor gene. However, researchers at the University of Texas have managed to increase the expression of this gene. To do this, some former smokers have been treated with a substance that is associated with these receptors.

Increased gene expression has revealed the disappearance of other cancer indicators. Therefore, researchers believe that a new pathway has been opened to look for drugs that reduce the risk of lung cancer.