Cancer research
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Two major metabolites of the tobacco-specific lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were previously shown to be highly persistent in human urine after cessation of cigarette smoking. We hypothesized that NNK or its metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), was sequestered in the lung. In this study, we further evaluated this hypothesis by quantifying the NNK metabolites, NNAL and its glucuronides (NNAL-Gluc), in urine and plasma after cessation of smokeless tobacco use, in which NNK is administered p.o. rather than by inhalation. ⋯ Ratios of (S)-NNAL:(R)-NNAL and (S)-NNAL-Gluc:(R)-NNAL-Gluc in urine were significantly (3.1-5.7 times) higher 7 days after cessation than at baseline in both smokeless tobacco users and smokers, indicating stereoselective retention of (S)-NNAL. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that there is a receptor in the human body, possibly in the lung, for (S)-NNAL, the more carcinogenic NNAL enantiomer. These data may have considerable implications for understanding mechanisms of tumor induction by NNK.