Cigarette smoking and cigarete smoke has been linked to various cancers including throat, lung, mouth, bladder, and uterine. However, it has not been linked to breast cancer. But new research from the University of Florida in Gainsville found a mechansim by which cigarette smoke condensate damages healthy breast epithelial cells.
Cigarette smoke condensate, better known as tar, contains all of the chemicals in cigarette smoke, and can be used to better assess the effects of smoking on healthy cells versus using only a fraction of the harmful chemicals. Cigarette smoke condensate contains all of the 81 carcinogenic compounds known to be in cigarettes.
To examine the effects tar was placed on healthy, isolated breast epithelial cells in the lab. The amount of tar used was equal to one cigarette.
The findings, published in Oncogene, showed changes in the breast cells consistent with DNA damage. It appeared that the tar caused DNA damage which affected the ability of the cells to repair prior to replication. Once a damaged cell is allowed to reproduce, it continues to grow unchecked. This lays out the potential that another mutation could create a cancerous cell. Most cells that become cancerous require more than one mutation.
This is a new revalation in the effects of cigarette smoke on breast cells, and warrants the advice for any woman to stay away from cigarettes all together.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on September 14, 2006 03:42 PM
