Tobacco Cessation Studies Key to Cancer Prevention

by Alison Ruffin

Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society, yet 48 million Americans still light up. While a vast majority of smokers have tried to quit, many relapse a short time later. Currently, less than 15 percent of people who quit smoking for a day remain abstinent for a year.

 

As a consequence, an estimated 161,100 people are expected to die from lung cancer this year, while more than 171,000 individuals will be diagnosed with the disease -- cigarettes serving as the chief risk factor.

 

In an effort to reduce the needless deaths and suffering caused by smoking, researchers in M. D. Anderson's Department of Behavioral Science, along with other basic science and clinical specialists, are conducting numerous studies focused on improving cessation rates, preventing relapse and understanding youth initiation.

 

They include:

 

· Led by principal investigator Dr. Paul Cinciripini, director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Program, scientists are examining the relationship between a dopamine receptor suspected of predisposing people to smoking to known predictors of poor cessation treatment outcome, negative mood and nicotine withdrawal.

 

Dr. Margaret R. Spitz, chair of the Department of Epidemiology, recently has completed a case-control study showing that individuals with the rarer genotypes were more likely to be ever smokers and younger at the time of smoking initiation.

 

In addition, researchers are evaluating the pharmacologic and psychological measures of nicotine dependence, and a potential genetic marker for nicotine abuse. Information gathered from this research may lead to more effective smoking cessation interventions.

 

· Since sleep is a fundamental index of behavioral disturbance, assistant professor of behavioral medicine Dr. David Wetter and colleagues are investigating the effects of nicotine withdrawal on sleep patterns among women and whether sleep deprivation resulting from nicotine abstinence may cause or exacerbate other withdrawal symptoms.

 

· Led by principal investigator Dr. Ellen R. Gritz, chair of the Department of Behavioral Science, researchers are examining why African-American youths are less likely to begin smoking than their white or Hispanic counterparts. Results from the study may lead to culturally appropriate education efforts to discourage adolescents from becoming smokers.

 

· Dr. Wetter also is evaluating whether hand-held computers can prevent relapse among women and whether they are effective as an adjunct to the nicotine patch. In these studies, coping skills selected by the individual are presented by the computer at needed times of temptation.

 

Dr. Cinciripini is investigating the efficacy of scheduled reduced smoking as an adjunct to the nicotine patch. Smokers are prompted by the computer to smoke at specific times prior to quitting. This procedure will help the smoker break the conditional associations between smoking and environmental cues.