PTEN and cancer: This pathway has not been fully explored in the context of NNK exposure and cancer, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention in lung cancer caused by smoking; (3) potential Clinical Relevance: Since both PHLPP1 and PTEN are well-documented tumor suppressors that are frequently downregulated in lung cancer, understanding the mechanisms behind their dysregulation could have significant clinical implications, including new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches for early-stage lung cancer in smokers.