Cytotoxic and proliferative effect of tobacco products on Lewis lung adenocarcinoma cells and spleen lymphocytes.

The effect of tobacco products (TP) on the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells (3LL) and mice spleen lymphocytes as well as on tumor growth and metastasis was analyzed. High concentrations of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) or tobacco extract (TE) were cytotoxic for tumoral and lymphoid cells; in contrast smaller amounts of TP increased thymidine incorporation in both cell types. Lymphocytes were more susceptible to the toxic effect of TP than 3LL cells. When CSC or TE were mixed with 3LL cells and then inoculated into mice, they did not modify either the size of the local tumor induced by 3LL cells, or the number or appearance time of lung metastasis, although there was an increase in spleen weight.