A Reuters article in Scientific American discusses the possibility that tests showing cell damage to the lining of the mouth may be able to predict lung cancer in smokers.

The hope of researchers is that at some point in the future, it may be possible to swab the mouths of smokers to predict who is developing lung cancer; preventing the need to perform painful and dangerous biopsies of the lung.

In a statement, Dr. Li Mao, a head, neck and lung cancer expert at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston stated, "Our study opens the door to enhancing our ability to predict who has higher probability of getting tobacco-related cancers." Mao continued, "Not only lung cancer, but pancreatic, bladder and head and neck cancers, which also are associated with tobacco use."

Mao hopes that this process may also lead to tests that predict other types of cancer.