Abstract 4602: Differences in tumor vascular density between smoker and non-smoker cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Smoking is among the most significant preventable risk factors associated with cancer and other benign diseases. Cancer development is a multi-step process in which transforming cells gradually gain malignant properties through a series of oncogenic genetic alterations. Successful cancer progression also depends on the remodeling of the surrounding stroma, which feeds the cancer cells in a host-parasite interaction. Tumor angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel formation, is an essential feature of solid tumors that ensures that they have the needed supply of food and oxygen to sustain their proliferative growth. We previously demonstrated that nicotine, an addictive component of tobacco smoke, promoted tumor angiogenesis by impacting the growth of endothelial cells. In the present work, we examined the differences in tumor vasculature between smoker and non-smoker patients to find clinical support for our laboratory findings. After searching the available tumor cases in the repository for the patient’s smoking history, I selected 27 smokers (12 lung and 15 prostate adenocarcinomas) and 19 non-smokers (4 lung and 15 prostate adenocarcinomas) cases. The tissue blocks were sectioned and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry using an antibody against CD31, a biomarker for endothelial cells. Following digital scanning, all slides were reviewed to identify tumor areas and CD31+ tubular structures (blood vessels). We observed that lung and prostate tumor tissues from smoker patients had a significantly higher number of blood vessels than those from non-smoker patients. Thus, increased tumor vascularization appears to be a common feature of smoking cancer patients providing clinical support for a novel mechanism by which smoking may contribute to tumor pathobiology. Citation Format: Shubhangi Singh, Mohammad Aslam Khan, Elba T. Herrera, Seema Singh, Ajay P. Singh, Santanu Dasgupta. Differences in tumor vascular density between smoker and non-smoker cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4602.