Lung Cancer Due to Smoking

Lung Cancer Due to Smoking - The cells lining the mouth reflect the molecular damage caused by cigarettes in the lining of the lungs, U.S. researchers reported.

Examination of oral tissue lining the mouth to measure the molecular changes that cause lung cancer can save patients and people at risk of developing lung cancer from uncomfortable procedures used now, said the team of researchers.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but only about 10% of smokers who attack the disease. The disease causes few symptoms until the developing world, which means patients are rarely diagnosed or treated until it is too late to treat.

Mao's team, wanted to find a way to monitor patients who use one drug, COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, sold by Pfizer (PFE.N) under the name Celebrex, hoping to prevent lung cancer.

They studied two genes, known to help prevent cancer development, p16 and FHIT. There are fundamental damage (in both genes) long before the cancer struck, "said Mao.

When speaking at the meeting of the American Association for Research Center in San Diego, they said they were seeking special damages in both of these genes in lung samples and mouth of 125 older smokers.

"We talked about just checking in to obtain the same information that we get from brushing lungs obtained through bronchoscopy,"

said study presenter Dr. Manisha Bhutani who worked with Mao.

The team examined the oral tissues and the lung lining called the epithelium, in 125 chronic smokers enrolled in the study. The status of two important genes that suppress tumors analyzed. Gene, p16 and FHIT, are known to damage very early in the process of cancer development.