Researchers at the Christie Hospital, in Manchester, say they have identified a mechanism that may explain how smoking can cause breast and bowel cancer as well as lung cancer. They have found that smokers have significantly higher levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in their blood than non-smokers, and say other research had recently established that IGFs are linked to breast and colorectal cancer. However, they say a much larger study would be needed to prove that smoking, levels of IGF and cancer risk are linked. The findings were presented at the British Endocrine Societies' meeting in Harrogate, Yorkshire. (Independent Online 10/04/02)

　　From Health-news.co.uk