Tobacco smoke triggers the production of COX-2, a cellular protein linked to the development of cancer, a latest research published in the January 15 issue of the journal Cancer Research found.

Tobacco smoke also promoted rapid cellular production of two proteins that initiate an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) driven cascade leading to the production of COX-2, the report stated.

In this report, a research group led by Andrew J. Dannenberg at Cornell University indicated that smokers produce as much as four times the amount of COX-2 in oral mucosal cells lining their mouths than their non-smoking counterparts.

After observing the increased amount of COX-2 in the oral mucosa of smokers, the research team exposed cells in culture to tobacco smoke to define the mechanism underlying smoke-induced elevation of COX-2.

The researchers determined that COX-2 levels were increased due to tobacco smoke induced activation of EGFR, a cell membrane protein also associated with various types of cancer. Tobacco smoke stimulated the oral mucosal cells to rapidly release two proteins that activate the EGFR, initiating a cascade resulting in COX-2 protein production.

"In an oral mucosal cell line, tobacco smoke clearly activated the epidermal growth factor receptor. Tobacco smoke caused increased EGFR phosphorylation leading to increased COX-2 production," Dannenberg wrote in the paper.

"These results provide new insights into the mechanism by which tobacco smoke causes cancer," he said.