title: Levels of tobacco-specific metabolites among non-smoking lung cancer cases at diagnosis: case-control findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality and is a known risk factor for lung cancer development in lifelong nonsmokers. The metabolite 4-(methylnitrosamino)- 1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronides (NNAL-Glucs) have now emerged as leading biomarkers for the study of carcinogen exposure in non-smokers exposed to ETS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out our study on NNAL in the urine of non-smokers exposed to ETS and the association between ETS and lung cancer. Subjects were enrolled from 2008-2010. NNAL was analyzed for 74 non-smoking lung cancer and 85 healthy controls. The main objective of this study was to provide an estimate of the risk of lung cancer from exposure to ETS in the Korean population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean NNAL concentration in urine was significantly lower in non-smoking patient groups (n=74) than in control groups (n=85) (4.7±15.0 pg/mg, 6.5 ± 17.9 pg/mg, respectively, Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urine NNAL of non-smoking patients with lung cancer was not elevated with regard to the non-smoking control group. This may be due to life-style changes after diagnosis. A prospective study will be needed to evaluate the association of NNAL and non-smoking lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Center for Diagnostic Oncology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea E-mail : dhlee@ncc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hye-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: E Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Heung Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000652:urine*; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: C099564:4-((methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)but-1-yl)beta-omega-glucosiduronic acid; D002273:Carcinogens; D005965:Glucuronates; D009602:Nitrosamines; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution