CHRNA7 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: The α7 nAChR subunit is overexpressed on human NSCLC tumors compared to normal adjacent, and nicotine can enhance expression of the α7 receptor itself, further demonstrating the importance of α7 in nicotine-mediated pathophysiological effects; however, how this occurs and how the α7 nAChR gene is regulated is less understood.