Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 4, 2026

A General Method for Detecting Nitrosamide Formation in the In Vitro Metabolism of Nitrosamines by Cytochrome P450s
07:38

A General Method for Detecting Nitrosamide Formation in the In Vitro Metabolism of Nitrosamines by Cytochrome P450s

Published on: September 25, 2017

10.6K

Metabolic reprogramming by tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in cancer

Saharnaz Sarlak1, Claude Lalou1, Nivea Dias Amoedo2

  • 1INSERM U1211, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Bordeaux University, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33000 Bordeaux, France.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|November 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Environmental factors like tobacco smoke can initiate cancer by altering cell metabolism. This study explores how tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) may trigger metabolic reprogramming, offering new insights into early cancer detection and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Metabolic Research
  • Environmental Carcinogenesis

Background:

  • Metabolic reprogramming is a known hallmark of cancer, driven by genetic factors.
  • Environmental carcinogens also initiate cancer, but their impact on early metabolic changes is less understood.
  • UVB irradiation's effect on pre-cancerous metabolic reprogramming highlights the need to study other carcinogens, like tobacco smoke.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of tobacco smoke, a major environmental carcinogen, on tissue metabolism during early cancer initiation.
  • To explore the role of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in mediating metabolic reprogramming.
  • To propose a new hypothesis linking nitrosamine signaling to metabolic reprogramming in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advances in understanding carcinogen-induced metabolic changes.
  • Analysis of the role of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in cancer initiation.
  • Formulation of a novel hypothesis on nitrosamine signaling and metabolic reprogramming.

Main Results:

  • Established link between oncogene activation, tumor suppressor inactivation, and metabolic changes in cancer.
  • Demonstrated that UVB irradiation induces metabolic reprogramming at the pre-cancer stage.
  • Identified tobacco smoke as a significant class I carcinogen with largely unknown metabolic effects.
  • Highlighted the central role of TSNAs in tobacco smoke-mediated cancer initiation.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental factors significantly contribute to early cancer initiation through metabolic reprogramming.
  • Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are implicated in linking nitrosamine signaling to metabolic reprogramming.
  • Further research into TSNA-induced metabolic changes is crucial for understanding and targeting tobacco-related cancers.

More Related Videos

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo08:19

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

Published on: July 20, 2019

6.3K
Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling09:33

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling

Published on: March 20, 2018

14.2K

Related Concept Videos

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
1.8K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
6.8K
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
7.6K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.0K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
9.3K
Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).
2.0K