Although smoking is the major risk factor for bladder cancer, toxins from cigarette smoke are probably not the primary reason for its formation. This is revealed by a study conducted by researchers at the University of York.
-1588167883.jpg "Recreating DNA damage from smoking in the lab to determine causes of bladder cancer")
- Researchers have analyzed the effects of cigarette smoke on the DNA of bladder tumors
- Smoke toxins were indeed found in the DNA of the tumor but without being responsible for the most significant damage
- These toxins could, on the other hand, accelerate other events linked to the development of the tumor.
While the causes of bladder cancer are still largely unknown, smoking is considered to be the main risk factor. It is this link that interested researchers from york university (UK). To carry out their studypublished in the monthly medical journal European Urologythey cultured human bladder tissue in the lab.
They then exposed them to a toxin prevalent in cigarette smoke. Then, once the tissues were damaged by the toxin, the scientists analyzed the three billion letters of their genetic code. Objective: to determine a pattern of modifications, also called “mutational signature”.
Mutational signatures, comparable to fingerprints at a crime scene
“Mutational signatures can be used like fingerprints at a crime sceneillustrates Dr. Simon Baker, from the Department of Biology at the University of York, in a communicated published on the institution’s website. When we look at a cancer’s DNA, we can see the fingerprints of all the criminals involved in the damage that led to it..”
Similarly, if the DNA-damaging event could be exposure to cigarette smoke or UV from the sun, it could also be an unknown event that caused the cancer.
“The toxin in the smoke left its distinctive fingerprints on the DNA”
“Our study found that the toxin in the smoke left its distinctive fingerprints on the DNA of lab-grown bladder tissue”, reports the doctor. One caveat, however: When the researchers analyzed the DNA of the study participants’ bladder cancers, the toxin’s mutational signature was only responsible for a small amount of the damage.
“So while smoking is the major risk factor for bladder cancer, direct DNA damage from toxins in smoke is unlikely to be the primary reason for these cancers to form. “concludes Simon Baker.
APOBEC enzymes under the magnifying glass
Nevertheless, according to the researchers, it is possible that the toxins present in the smoke accelerate other DNA-damaging events. From now on, the team is concentrating on the “APOBEC” family of enzymes.
Indeed, if they destroy viruses by modifying their DNA as part of the body’s natural defenses against infection, recent studies suggest that they could mistakenly target our own DNA in several types of cancer. Next step for researchers: trying to understand how and why APOBEC enzymes become active in bladder cells.
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