Comparison impact of cigarettes and e-cigs as lung cancer risk inductor: a narrative review

Abstract

Smoking cigarettes contributes to lung cancer progression and the development of other respiratory diseases. E-cigs are increasingly being offered to mitigate the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes and eventually for smoke cessation. Because e-cigs do not burn tobacco, it stands to reason that vaping e-liquid is less harmful than inhaling cigarette smoke. This study critically assessed the underlying biological effects of cigarettes and e-Cigs. We searched PubMed databases to elucidate the fundamental, potentially carcinogenic, molecular pathways and the possible effects of cigarettes and e-cigs products on lung cancer progression. Cigarette smoke leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while e-cigs have contributed to lung injury. Cigarette smoke and e-cigs increase proinflammatory cytokine expression in cells and affect protein regulation, leading to an increased lung cancer risk. E-cigs are quickly gaining popularity among consumers. Vaping-related diseases and deaths have attracted attention on a global scale. Excessive nicotine levels in e-liquid have the potential to cause severe toxicity, which can lead to neurological and brain damage and respiratory failure, as well as death. Thus, the toxic effects of e-cigs aerosol exposure are essentially identical to that caused by combustible cigarette smoking.