Abstract: Tobacco smoking results in the death of approximately 5 to 6 million people in the world each year, including more than 35% of total cancer deaths. Nicotine, the addictive constituent of tobacco, as well as its derived carcinogenic nitrosamines contribute to cancer progression through the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(nAChRs). The role of nicotine in carcinogenesis remains controversial; nicotine has been proven to induce DNA damages by oxidative stress induction in bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, nicotine induces myosarcomas in the A/J strain of mice. The advances on nAChRs in tobacco-related cancer were briefly summarized in this review.