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. 2013 Aug;35(8):1096-100.
doi: 10.1002/hed.23085. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Elevated levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and N'-nitrosonornicotine in smokers with head and neck cancer: A matched control study

Samir S Khariwala  1 , Steven G Carmella, Irina Stepanov, Patricia Fernandes, Amy Anne Lassig, Bevan Yueh, Dorothy Hatsukami, Stephen S Hecht
Affiliations

Elevated levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and N'-nitrosonornicotine in smokers with head and neck cancer: A matched control study

Samir S Khariwala et al. Head Neck. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: biomarkers; carcinogenesis; head and neck cancer; metabolites; tobacco.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Scatterplot of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HOP) in study (blue dot) and control (red dot) subjects. [Color figure can be viewed in the online issue, which is available at wileyonlinelibrary.com.]
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Scatterplot of nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in study (blue dot) and control (red dot) subjects. [Color figure can be viewed in the online issue, which is available at wileyonlinelibrary.com.]
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Scatterplot of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in study (blue dot) and control (red dot) subjects. [Color figure can be viewed in the online issue, which is available at wileyonlinelibrary.com.]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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