Human cancer genomes harbor the mutational signature of tobacco-specific nitrosamines NNN and NNK.

A recent preprint abstract discusses the link between tobacco usage and various types of cancer. The study focuses on the mutational signatures of tobacco-specific nitrosamines NNN and NNK, which form pre-mutagenic pyridyloxobutyl (POB) DNA adducts. The researchers identified these mutational signatures in cell lines, rat tumors, and approximately 180 human cancer genomes. The study suggests that the POB pathway may contribute uniquely to the mutational landscapes of certain hematological malignancies and cancers of the kidney, breast, prostate, and pancreas. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]