NIH study finds low-dose nicotine does not promote tumor growth in mouse models of lung cancer

[Tom09]

NCI Press Release 10/25/2011

Experiments in mice show that low levels of exposure to nicotine, equivalent to those in humans who use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help them quit smoking, did not promote lung tumor growth. The study, by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, together with the results of another study published online Oct. 25, 2011, in Cancer Prevention Research, indicates that use of NRT for extended periods of time would be unlikely to cause an increase in lung cancer incidence rates of former smokers.[...]
[A] limited body of research—including some tissue culture studies conducted by NCI scientists—has suggested that even low levels of nicotine might promote tumor growth. Those earlier findings raised potential concerns about the safety of using NRT. The results of the current study in mice found no evidence to support this concern. [...]

CR Maier, MC Hollander, EA Hobbs, I Dogan, RI Linnoila, PA Dennis (2011): Nicotine Does Not Enhance Tumorigenesis in Mutant K-Ras–Driven Mouse Models of Lung Cancer. Cancer Prev Res Published OnlineFirst October 25, 2011.
From the original paper abstract:

[... S]afety of NRT is controversial because numerous preclinical studies have shown that nicotine enhances tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo.[...]
[New] data show that nicotine does not enhance lung tumorigenesis when given to achieve levels comparable with those of NRT, suggesting that nicotine has a dose threshold, below which it has no appreciable effect. These studies are consistent with epidemiologic data showing that NRT does not enhance lung cancer risk in former smokers.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Thanks for posting this.

 

[trinifreak]

Now all we need to find out are the real absorption rate of nicotine when one uses a PV.