# Biological impact of exclusive and dual e-cigarette use on oral cancer risk

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $489,636

## Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are the most used tobacco product among youth, and are used by over 30% of adult
tobacco smokers (dual users). Electronic cigarette aerosols contain substantially fewer chemicals than tobacco
smoke. Thus, they are perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. However, electronic cigarette
aerosols contain known carcinogens and reactive oxygen species, as well as unique constituents that might
have unforeseen health consequences. We and others have reported that, in vitro and in animal models,
electronic cigarette aerosols induce DNA damage and can alter gene expression reducing cellular antioxidant
capacity and DNA repair. These data raise the concern that electronic cigarette use, in addition to causing
DNA damage, reduces DNA repair capacity potentially increasing cancer risk associated with other genotoxics.
There is a clear and urgent need to assess the genotoxic effects of electronic cigarette aerosols in the context
of exclusive and dual electronic cigarette users, to protect users and bystanders, and to guide evidence-based
public health policies and regulations. There have been no genotoxic studies in electronic cigarette users.
Here, we propose to assess the genotoxic and non-genotoxic effects of electronic cigarette use in exclusive
and dual users. Based on our preliminary data we hypothesize that: (a) vaping causes an increase in
genotoxicity, which is smaller than combustible tobacco but is amplified in dual users; (b) vaping and smoking
alter the oral transcriptome towards distinct oncogenic phenotypes; and (c) specific aerosol constituents
determine the unique genotoxic and non-genotoxic properties of electronic cigarette mixtures. To test our
hypotheses and attain our overall aims, we will pursue the following three specific aims: (1) assess the
genotoxic and mutagenic effects of electronic cigarettes in exclusive and dual electronic cigarette and
combustible tobacco users; (2) characterize the impact of electronic cigarette use on oral mucosa
transcriptome; and (3) dissect the effect of EC aerosol constituents on cellular genotoxicity and DNA repair
capacity. DNA damage, mutagenicity, and transcriptomes will be characterized in exclusive and dual electronic
and combustible cigarette users. Genotoxicity will be evaluated through the targeted analysis of specific DNA
adducts, but also through the use of a novel assay developed in our lab (q-PADDA) which detects with high
sensitivity a broad spectrum of DNA damage lesions. The electronic cigarette aerosols particle size distribution
and chemical profile will also be characterized. Functional studies will probe drivers and pathways altered by
electronic cigarette use. The effects of complex EC aerosol mixtures and individual constituents on
mutagenicity will be evaluated, and the mechanisms contributing to overall genotoxicity investigated. Our team
is uniquely suited to use a multidisciplinary approach to dissect the oncogenic potential of electronic ciga...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10046665
- **Project number:** 1R01CA242168-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Lurdes Queimado
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $489,636
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-15 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10046665

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10046665, Biological impact of exclusive and dual e-cigarette use on oral cancer risk (1R01CA242168-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10046665. Licensed CC0.

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