Vaping has commonly been seen as a “less harmful” substitute for smoking by many individuals. Nonetheless, a fresh study released in the Cancer Research journal indicates that this perception may not be entirely accurate. The study, recently published, reveals that individuals who engage in vaping experience comparable DNA alterations to those observed in smokers who eventually develop cancer.
About the study
Researchers from University College London and the University of Innsbruck, Austria conducted a study aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the lasting impacts of e-cigarettes on health. In their investigation, scientists analyzed over 3,500 samples to examine the epigenetic effects of both tobacco and e-cigarettes on DNA methylation. The study assessed the impact on cells that were directly exposed to tobacco (specifically, cheek cells) as well as those that were not.
According to Dr. Chiara Herzog, a researcher at University College London and the University of Innsbruck, this study marks the first of its kind to explore the effects of smoking and vaping on various cell types beyond just blood cells. Herzog emphasized the team’s commitment to understanding the long-term health consequences associated with e-cigarette use.
While the researchers refrained from concluding that e-cigarettes directly cause cancer based on this study, they did observe similar epigenetic alterations in buccal cells as seen in smokers, which are associated with increased lung cancer risk in smokers.
The epigenome, an additional layer of information overlaying our DNA, undergoes continuous changes throughout our lives due to genetic and non-genetic factors such as lifestyle choices, exposure to hormones, environmental influences, and others.
What did they find?
The study revealed similar epigenetic alterations in the cells of e-cigarette users who had smoked fewer than 100 tobacco cigarettes in their lifetime.
Dr. Herzog stated, “Our study does not definitively prove that e-cigarettes cause cancer, but we do observe comparable epigenetic changes in buccal cells of e-cigarette users as seen in smokers. These changes are associated with the future development of lung cancer in smokers.”
She further commented, “Further research will be necessary to determine if these characteristics could be utilized to predict cancer in smokers and e-cigarette users on an individual basis.”
Through computational analysis of the samples, researchers discovered that some smoking-related epigenetic changes remain relatively stable even after smoking cessation. This stability was also observed in smoking-related epigenetic changes in cervical samples, a previously unexplored area.
Dr. Herzog, from UCL, also emphasized the need for more research on the long-term effects of vaping.
“While it’s widely accepted that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking tobacco, we shouldn’t assume they are entirely risk-free. It’s crucial to investigate their potential long-term risks and connections to cancer,” she concluded.