Squamous cell cancers and cigarette smoke: a matter of exposure.
Most of the malignancies associated with tobacco smoke are squamous cell cancers. Others have suggested that squamous cell epithelium has a particular predisposition to tobacco carcinogenesis. However, other malignancies besides squamous cell cancers also have been associated with cigarettes. I hypothesize that the key factor which predisposes an organ or tissue to carcinogenesis by cigarette smoke is exposure to smoke constituents, either directly or indirectly. Squamous cell epithelium has no special biological susceptibility to these carcinogens.
Neugut
A I
AI
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution