Nicotine binding to receptor linked to breast cancer cell growth
When nicotine binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR), it is known to promote smoking addiction and may also directly promote the development of breast cancer, according to a study published online August 23 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
While smoking is a well-known risk factor for a broad range of cancer types, non-nicotine components of tobacco have generally been thought to be the carcinogens, so little is known about how nicotine acts on cells to promote cancer cell growth. For breast cancer in particular, some large epidemiological studies have suggested that smoking is related to increased breast cancer risk, but they have not been accompanied by molecular biology studies on how that actually works.
Read the whole article at ecancer.org
Reference
- Lee CH, Huang CS, et al. Overexpression and activation of the alpha9-nicotinic receptor during tumorigenesis in human breast epithelial cells. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2010; 102(17): 1322–1335. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djq300.
Keywords: smoking, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, breast cancer
24. 8. 2010 ecancermedicalscience
