Grant Number:	5R01CA120594-05 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Strasser, Andrew
Organization:	University Of Pennsylvania
Project Title:	Smoking Topography and Harm Exposure in a New Prep
Fiscal Year:	2011

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Approximately 25% of the adult US population are current smokers, and although many try to quit, most fail. As an alternative, some smokers use potentially reduced exposure products (PREPs). However, prior harm reduction products, such as light cigarettes, have proven to be a public health disaster. Carcinogen exposure studies and epidemiologic data show that compensatory smoking behavior can make light cigarettes as harmful as regular cigarettes. Therefore, it is important to understand how people use PREPs and to assess how this relates to their harm exposure. Quest(r) cigarettes are a new PREP that uses genetically modified tobacco to provide a "step-down approach to becoming nicotine-free" by marketing cigarettes with progressively lower levels of nicotine: 0.6 mg, 0.3 mg and 0.05 mg. The primary aim of the study is to investigate the effect of progressive decreases in cigarette nicotine level on smoking topography and harm exposure measures. The study will be a within-subject, open-label design of 210 smokers not currently interested in quitting. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: 1) continue to smoke their own brand (control); 2) smoke Quest(r) cigarettes in the step-down order, progressively decreasing cigarette nicotine level from 0.6 mg, to 0.3 mg, to 0.05 mg (Quest(r) step-down); or 3) smoke Quest(r) cigarettes in a non-step down random order, counter balanced across subjects (Quest(r) non-step- down). The study will consist of four stages beginning with a 5-day own brand cigarette smoking phase for all participants, followed by one of the three cigarette conditions. For those smoking Quest(r) cigarettes, cigarette nicotine level will change every 10 days, either in a step-down or random fashion. The primary behavioral outcome is smoking topography; specifically total and mean puff volume, which will be assessed at each session. Carbon monoxide to assess smoke exposure, and urinary biomarkers, will also be assessed. At baseline, participants will view Quest(r) advertisements and complete a survey of product expectations to determine the impact of beliefs about Quest(r) cigarettes on subsequent smoking behavior. This study has several important public health implications. It will determine how a new PREP is actually used. It will also determine how product use relates to harm exposure. Finally, it will identify those most susceptible to changes in smoking topography that may increase harm exposure.




Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarette Advertising: How False Beliefs And Subjective Ratings Affect Smoking Behavior
Authors: Mercincavage M. , Saddleson M.L. , Gup E. , Halstead A. , Mays D. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Drug And Alcohol Dependence, 2017-02-03 00:00:00.0; 173, p. 99-106.
PMID: 28214392
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Attrition During A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes As A Proxy For Understanding Acceptability Of Nicotine Product Standards
Authors: Mercincavage M. , Wileyto E.P. , Saddleson M.L. , Lochbuehler K. , Donny E.C. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Addiction (abingdon, England), 2017-01-20 00:00:00.0; , .
PMID: 28107596
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Progressively Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes On Smoking Behaviors, Biomarkers Of Exposure, And Subjective Ratings
Authors: Mercincavage M. , Souprountchouk V. , Tang K.Z. , Dumont R.L. , Wileyto E.P. , Carmella S.G. , Hecht S.S. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : A Publication Of The American Association For Cancer Research, Cosponsored By The American Society Of Preventive Oncology, 2016-04-27 00:00:00.0; , .
PMID: 27197288
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Awareness of FDA-mandated cigarette packaging changes among smokers of 'light' cigarettes.
Authors: Falcone M. , Bansal-Travers M. , Sanborn P.M. , Tang K.Z. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Health Education Research, 2015 Feb; 30(1), p. 81-6.
PMID: 25492058
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Individual differences in positivity offset and negativity bias: Gender-specific associations with two serotonin receptor genes.
Authors: Ashare R.L. , Norris C.J. , Wileyto E.P. , Cacioppo J.T. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Personality And Individual Differences, 2013-09-01 00:00:00.0; 55(5), p. 469-473.
PMID: 23976810
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Cigarette marketing and packaging.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Kozlowski L.T. .
Source: The Virtual Mentor : Vm, 2013-04-01 00:00:00.0; 15(4), p. 332-8.
EPub date: 2013-04-01 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 23566783
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The effect of menthol on cigarette smoking behaviors, biomarkers and subjective responses.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Ashare R.L. , Kaufman M. , Tang K.Z. , Mesaros A.C. , Blair I.A. .
Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : A Publication Of The American Association For Cancer Research, Cosponsored By The American Society Of Preventive Oncology, 2013 Mar; 22(3), p. 382-9.
PMID: 23334588
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Cognitive effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil, in healthy, non-treatment seeking smokers: a pilot feasibility study.
Authors: Ashare R.L. , Ray R. , Lerman C. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Drug And Alcohol Dependence, 2012-11-01 00:00:00.0; 126(1-2), p. 263-7.
EPub date: 2012-11-01 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 22595038
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Effects of 21 days of varenicline versus placebo on smoking behaviors and urges among non-treatment seeking smokers.
Authors: Ashare R.L. , Tang K.Z. , Mesaros A.C. , Blair I.A. , Leone F. , Strasser A.A. .
Source: Journal Of Psychopharmacology (oxford, England), 2012 Oct; 26(10), p. 1383-90.
PMID: 22695488
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Graphic warning labels in cigarette advertisements: recall and viewing patterns.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Tang K.Z. , Romer D. , Jepson C. , Cappella J.N. .
Source: American Journal Of Preventive Medicine, 2012 Jul; 43(1), p. 41-7.
PMID: 22704744
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Graphic-enhanced information improves perceived risks of cigar smoking.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Orom H. , Tang K.Z. , Dumont R.L. , Cappella J.N. , Kozlowski L.T. .
Source: Addictive Behaviors, 2011 Aug; 36(8), p. 865-9.
PMID: 21481542
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Nicotine metabolite ratio predicts smoking topography and carcinogen biomarker level.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Benowitz N.L. , Pinto A.G. , Tang K.Z. , Hecht S.S. , Carmella S.G. , Tyndale R.F. , Lerman C.E. .
Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : A Publication Of The American Association For Cancer Research, Cosponsored By The American Society Of Preventive Oncology, 2011 Feb; 20(2), p. 234-8.
PMID: 21212060
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Behavioral filter vent blocking on the first cigarette of the day predicts which smokers of light cigarettes will increase smoke exposure from blocked vents.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Tang K.Z. , Sanborn P.M. , Zhou J.Y. , Kozlowski L.T. .
Source: Experimental And Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2009 Dec; 17(6), p. 405-12.
PMID: 19968405
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PREP advertisement features affect smokers' beliefs regarding potential harm.
Authors: Strasser A.A. , Tang K.Z. , Tuller M.D. , Cappella J.N. .
Source: Tobacco Control, 2008 Sep; 17 Suppl 1, p. i32-8.
PMID: 18768457
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