Study on cigarettes and drug interaction???

[k3vin]

Can anyone tell me exactly what this is referring too?? although it is 2 years old.

http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/18/16/4219/F1.expansion.html


There is a small link to the right you can click on called Text

 

[AgentAnia]

I think you need an oncologist or pulmonologist skilled at translating medicalese into English to explain that article! It's certainly Greek to me...

 

[Uma]

Interesting find! I have zero idea too. But, I found a related link, and like a true form journalist, skimmed down to the conclusion which reads: "In conclusion, smoking does not alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel and paclitaxel. It is therefore unlikely that smoking influences the CYP3A metabolism of drugs. In our study, smokers had less leukopenia and neutropenia than nonsmokers. Further research is warranted to clarify the underlying mechanism of this potential protective effect of smoking on hematologic toxicities in taxane therapy".
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/18/16/4425.full

 

[Kent C]

Agent Ania is right - for best interpretation you would need an oncologist, but it appears that smoking may have a positive effect on some of the negative effects on chemotherapy - specifically in the bone marrow.

"However, if the precise pharmacologic mechanism of the effect of cigarette smoking on the bone marrow could be elucidated, it may be possible to develop a drug*, without the adverse effects of smoking, which stimulates hematopoiesis."

Hematopoiesis - is basically the process which takes place in the bone marrow to generate healthy red and white blood cells which chemotherapy tends to destroy, along with the cancer cells. It would be interesting to know if that drug* may be the nicotine only, that produced that effect - if so, (and again, much more information needed), then vaping may help during chemotherapy - but this is just an off the cuff, uninformed guess, not "advice".

In the chart "nicotine" is supposed to represent 'all smoking' rather than just nicotine and that in itself is misleading.

 

[AgentAnia]

Thank you, Kent C. At least now I have a better understanding of the general tenor of the research.

....if the precise pharmacologic mechanism of the effect of cigarette smoking on the bone marrow could be elucidated, it may be possible to develop a drug....

This brings to mind several articles I've seen over the past year about the negative effects of demonizing smoking/tobacco on aspects of medical research. The most recent one pointed out that because lung cancer is so closely related to smoking* (at least in the minds of researchers) that compared to other types of cancer, research into lung cancer has lagged.

*And because, in these same minds, smokers are "guilty" of causing their own cancer...

 

[Zurd]

pretty much chinese to me too, don't understand it, however this I understand and it clearly states that this study doesn not prove anything :

"The first question is whether these results indicate a true or a false discovery. This was a retrospective study with inherent biases, the most significant of which is case selection bias."

 

[Kent C]

Thank you, Kent C. At least now I have a better understanding of the general tenor of the research.



This brings to mind several articles I've seen over the past year about the negative effects of demonizing smoking/tobacco on aspects of medical research. The most recent one pointed out that because lung cancer is so closely related to smoking* (at least in the minds of researchers) that compared to other types of cancer, research into lung cancer has lagged.

*And because, in these same minds, smokers are "guilty" of causing their own cancer...

Same could be said for many illnesses. It's why lung cancer has no 'ribbons'.

And you're welcome

 

[Kent C]

Interesting find! I have zero idea too. But, I found a related link, and like a true form journalist, skimmed down to the conclusion which reads: "In conclusion, smoking does not alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel and paclitaxel. It is therefore unlikely that smoking influences the CYP3A metabolism of drugs. In our study, smokers had less leukopenia and neutropenia than nonsmokers. Further research is warranted to clarify the underlying mechanism of this potential protective effect of smoking on hematologic toxicities in taxane therapy".
Influence of Smoking on the Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity Profiles of Taxane Therapy

The 'journalists' in this case were Lionel Lewis (Dartmouth) and Mark Ratain (University of Chicago) and without checking I'm guessing American Cancer Society and/or gov't grant recipients and/or members. Any hint of any positive effects of smoking or nicotine is rejected out of hand, and would jeopardize their established positions within that closed minded community (ie. the universities they work for). Same for climatologists that don't think that -20 degree temps aren't a confirmation of global warming.

 

[k3vin]

thanks all,At first glance to me,it looked as if it was a positive on nicotine.I realize it entailed smoking,but was thinking that maybe there would be some separation of the nic from the smoke..

 

[Kent C]

thanks all,At first glance to me,it looked as if it was a positive on nicotine.I realize it entailed smoking,but was thinking that maybe there would be some separation of the nic from the smoke..

That might make a better study I know nicotine has anti-inflammatory properties, but not sure in what form. Aiding white blood cells would be one way.