We propose here that cigarette smoke (CS), in addition to its established genotoxic effects, elicits chronic albeit sub-clinical immune suppression, which is a major contributor to cancer progression.
This hypothesis, presented here primarily in the context of bladder cancers (BCs), is applicable to other cancers, including those without a confirmed link to smoking.
Oncoimmunology. 2015 May 27*** epublish ***
Jessica M Clement, Fei Duan, Pramod K Srivastava
Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of Connecticut School of Medicine ; Farmington, CT, USA. , Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of Connecticut School of Medicine ; Farmington, CT, USA ; Department of Immunology; University of Connecticut School of Medicine ; Farmington, CT, USA. , Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of Connecticut School of Medicine ; Farmington, CT, USA ; Department of Immunology; University of Connecticut School of Medicine ; Farmington, CT, USA.