Over the past few years, studies have indicated that smoking can alter DNA in a very dangerous way. The toxic substances and the dangerous compounds which are included in cigarette smoke, can result in mutations and modifications which can have a significant impact on health and increase the risk of many diseases, including cancer.
Presently, a new study confirms that smoking tobacco can certainly cause DNA mutations which leads to cancer. These stop-gain mutations instruct the body to stop producing certain proteins before they reach their full potential, thwarting their ability to protect against cancer.
Additionally, the researchers discovered that genes known as tumor-suppressors, which produce proteins that usually block aberrant cells from proliferating, were mostly affected by these stop-gain mutations leading to an uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells.
Nina Adler, a PhD student from the University of Toronto said, a study showed that smoking is connected with changes to DNA that disrupt the formation of tumor suppressors. Without them, abnormal cells are allowed to keep growing unchecked by the cell’s defenses and cancer can develop more easily.
Using robust computational methods, the researchers examined the DNA of over 12,000 tumor samples from 18 distinct cancer types. According to their findings, there was a clear association between smoking’s distinctive DNA footprint and stop-gain mutations found in lung cancer.
Their data also exposed that the more people smoked the more of these detrimental mutations were produced. Everyone knows that smoking can cause cancer, but being able to explain one of the ways, which works at a molecular level is an important step in understanding how our lifestyle gets affected because of the risk of cancer, Adler added.
The scientists realized that more research is needed to properly understand the detrimental impact of other factors, such as alcohol consumption and bad diet, on DNA but that, for now, there is conclusive proof that smoking lead to cancer. This conclusion is backed by previous studies.
Past research has found that the chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrosamines, can directly bind to DNA and cause mutations which disrupt normal cellular processes and gradually lead to cancer.
However, smoking produces high levels of reactive oxygen species and free radicals which causes oxidative damage to DNA, leading to mutations and other cellular damage. The activity has also been connected with accelerated telomere shortening and linked to cellular aging and various diseases.
Smoking can also lead to epigenetic changes, which are variations to the DNA particle that affects gene expression and have long-term effects on health.
The new study shows more evidence of severe smoking can harm human health and by quitting smoking or avoiding it completely, will be the best course of action.
