Smoking and Pancreatic Cancer: New Study Reveals a Dangerous Mechanism

Scientists have once again confirmed that smoking is one of the strongest risk factors for pancreatic cancer. American researchers have discovered that tobacco smoke triggers a dual mechanism that accelerates tumor growth and weakens the body’s defenses.

What Happens in a Smoker’s Body

It turns out that the harm from tobacco isn’t limited to the lungs. A team from the University of Michigan discovered that smokers with pancreatic cancer have a significantly more severe course of the disease. The journal Cancer Discovery describes how a toxin in cigarette smoke, TCDD, interferes with the immune system.

It activates specialized cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs), which generally help control inflammation. However, under the influence of the toxin, they begin to proliferate excessively, hindering the immune system’s ability to fight the tumor.

How tobacco accelerates tumor growth

Scientists have discovered that these cells secrete a protein called interleukin-22 (IL-22). It not only stimulates cancer cell division but also blocks the body’s defenses.

“Regulatory T cells essentially switch to the tumor’s side, helping it grow and metastasize,” explains Dr. Timothy Frankel, the study’s lead author.

In mouse experiments, cigarette toxin caused rapid cancer growth and metastasis. However, after removing the regulatory T cells, the tumors stopped growing.

Why is cancer more aggressive in smokers?

When analyzing tissue from people with pancreatic cancer, scientists noticed the same pattern: smokers have significantly higher numbers of regulatory T lymphocytes than non-smokers. This explains why the disease progresses more rapidly and is more challenging to treat.

According to specialists, this discovery opens the door to new therapeutic approaches. By learning to block these cells, we can restore the body’s anti-tumor defenses and make immunotherapy more effective.

Another reason to quit smoking

Experts at Santé Publique France remind us that a third of all cancer cases are related to smoking. And it affects more than just the lungs: tobacco damages the pancreas, mouth, throat, bladder, uterus, and other organs.

The main conclusion is clear: quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of cancer. Support programs, such as the Tabac Info Service, recommended by Top Santé, can help those who decide to quit.