Clarifying the relationship between tobacco and cancer

2005/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

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Researchers have shown that tobacco smoke favors the production of a cancer-related protein. The results of the study have been published in the journal Cancer Research and are of great help in understanding how tobacco influences the genesis of cancer.

This protein is called COX-2 and researchers have found that in the oral membrane of smokers there are four times more concentration than in non-smokers. To check the mechanism by which tobacco smoke influences the production of this protein, researchers have placed mucosal cells in a culture medium and subjected them to tobacco smoke. This has shown that smoke produces a growth factor that results in the production of COX-2. This protein is directly related to the generation and spread of cancer.

In addition, scientists have studied how to avoid the production of this protein and have shown that blocking the growth factor has a direct influence. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the appearance of cancer by different means, at least in the means of growth.