In a recent study by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, the effects of inhaling cigarette smoke not only can cause cancerous tumors, but if they already exist, can promote more rapid growth.
These findings, published Jan. 19th in the “Cancer Cell” , offer definite proof that lung inflammation caused by chronic exposure to tobacco smoke promotes lung cancer growth. Michael Karin, professor of pharmacology and pathology at UCSD said, “We’ve shown for the first time that tobacco smoke is a tumor promoter — not only a tumor initiator — and that it works through inflammation,”
The study also suggests that anti-inflammatory drugs may prevent or slow lung cancer progression although more research is needed.
