Chemical in Cigarettes Damages p53

It has been shown many times that the incidence of lung cancer is higher among people who smoke. Also, researchers report that many genes can cause cancer. Specifically, a gene called p53, which codes for a protein that suppresses tumor formation, has been mutated and does not function correctly in more than half of the lung cancers that have been studied. Until now, the link between the damaging agents in cigarettes and what goes on at the genetic level was unknown. But in an exciting discovery, scientist report that a chemical product, called benzo(a)pyrene-metabolite (BPDE) produced by cigarette tar causes damage to p53 similar to the damage that is seen in this gene in lung cancers. Specifically, BPDE altered p53 in the same locations that p53 is found to be altered in lung cancers. Researchers comment that still other chemicals in cigarettes may cause lung cancer and be implicated in other types of cancer.

"Study Ties Smoking to Gene Damage," The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 18, 1996

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