"Similarities" have been found in changes to the cheek cells of smokers and vapers - but it's not yet affecting public health messaging

A study published in the Cancer Research journal reveals DNA changes.

In smoking, similar changes have been linked to cancer.

Cancer and Blood Service medical oncologist, George Laking, says this research alone doesn't override vaping as an essential tool for reducing smoking harm.

He says it's important to keep doing work in this area - because the more we understand the pathways to cancer, the better we'll get at preventing it.