Patterns of lung cancer risk according to type of cigarette smoked

Abstract

In recent years several studies have suggested that the risk of lung cancer among smokers of filter (or lowtar) cigarettes is lower than the risk for users of nonfilter (or high-tar) cigarettes (Bross and Gibson, 1968;Dean et al., 1977;Hammond et al.,

The relationship of smoking cessation to coronary heart disease and lung cancer in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT).

“…[6][7][8] Given that the MRFIT smoking data were prospectively collected, biochemically validated, and substantially more precise than data from any previous epidemiologic study, they strengthen previous evidence reflecting the immediate beneficial effect of smoking cessation on CHD and the long lag period with respect to a potential beneficial effect on lung cancer.…”

“…The beneficial effect of smoking cessation on CHD is rapid; as the period of cessation increases, the ex-smoker's relative risk approaches that of the never smoker.3 However, in one study this return occurred gradually over a 20-year period.8 The relative risk of developing lung cancer has been demonstrated to decrease as the period of cessation increases for smokers who have stopped smoking,6-8 but their relative risk is still significantly elevated after 10 to 20 years of cessation compared to lifetime never smokers and is related to both the duration of smoking and length of cessation. [6][7][8] In the available studies, the effect of smoking cessation on the risk of developing CHD and lung cancer was estimated either using data gathered retrospectively6-8 or by considering that smoking habits were unchanged over the period of follow-up. 6,7 It is likely that during the course of these studies some ex-smokers became current smokers and vice versa.…”

“…[6][7][8] In the available studies, the effect of smoking cessation on the risk of developing CHD and lung cancer was estimated either using data gathered retrospectively6-8 or by considering that smoking habits were unchanged over the period of follow-up. 6,7 It is likely that during the course of these studies some ex-smokers became current smokers and vice versa. In addition, use of retrospective data entails problems of recall, and reports of cessation during the course of follow-up of these studies were not validated with biochemical measures.…”

Smoking Habits, Local Brand Cigarettes and Lung Cancer Risk in Okinawa, Japan.

“…The higher risk of Okinawan brand cigarettes might be partly ascribable to their relatively high tar yield, since tar per cigarette has been incriminated as a determinant for lung cancer risk, independently of other smoking habits such as number of cigarettes smoked per day, smoke inhalation, age at starting smoking and years since cessation [32][33][34][35] According to the Japan Tobacco Incorporation (formerly the Japan Monopoly), all Okinawan brands, including brand A and B, contained 17 mg of tar per cigarette, while the median tar yield of 74 nonOkinawan brands was 9 mg per cigarette. Further investigations, including complete lifetime histories for use of each cigarette brand, would, therefore, be warranted to disclose the role of Okinawan brand cigarettes on lung cancer.…”

Relationships between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer: biological insights

“…The proportions of nicotine and tar, which includes several types of cancer promoter chemicals in the condensable residue of CS, have varied throughout time. Studies have demonstrated that in smokers consuming filtered cigarettes with lower tar proportions the risk of LC was reduced compared to those exposed to unfiltered cigarettes with higher tar yields (40)(41)(42). In another investigation (43), in smokers consuming highyield tar cigarettes the risk of LC was significantly greater than in low-and medium-yield smokers, suggesting that tar yields are a risk factor of LC.…”