Elevated levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and N'-nitrosonornicotine in smokers with head and neck cancer: A matched control study.
BACKGROUND
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with tobacco use. Still, most smokers do not develop HNSCC. The mechanisms of varying susceptibility to HNSCC are poorly studied to date. Tobacco metabolite research provides insight regarding the innate metabolism and excretion of carcinogens.


METHODS
Smokers with HNSCC (cases) were compared with smokers without HNSCC (controls) in a matched cohort. The tobacco metabolites studied were: 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HOP), N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL).


RESULTS
In 33 subjects, mean 1-HOP was 1.82 pmol/mg creatinine versus 1.08 pmol/mg creatinine (p = .004) and mean NNN was 0.10 pmol/mg creatinine versus 0.04 pmol/mg creatinine (p = .01) in cases and controls, respectively. NNAL did not differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Smokers with HNSCC have elevated urinary levels of 1-HOP and total NNN compared with matched controls, suggesting an increased effective exposure to these carcinogens. Tobacco constituent metabolites may be useful in understanding tobacco-related carcinogenesis in HNSCC.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. Khari001@umn.edu
Samir S
SS
Khariwala
Steven G
SG
Carmella
Irina
I
Stepanov
Patricia
P
Fernandes
Amy Anne
AA
Lassig
Bevan
B
Yueh
Dorothy
D
Hatsukami
Stephen S
SS
Hecht
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000652:urine*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000652:urine*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000652:urine; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
D015415:Biomarkers; D009602:Nitrosamines; D011721:Pyrenes; D011725:Pyridines; D003404:Creatinine; C099565:4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butan-1-ol; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene; C008655:N'-nitrosonornicotine