Substantial evidence show a higher incidence of gastric cancer in smokers than nonsmokers and that cigarette smoking is highly associated with colon cancer. The present study was designed to examine the effect of cigarette smoke extracts on gastric and colon cancer cell proliferation, which is important for tumor growth. Two different cell lines were used. One was gastric cancer cell line AGS, and the other was colon cancer cell line HT-29. It was found that cigarette smoke extracts stimulated cell proliferation and c-myc expression in AGS cells. Furthermore, this proliferative action was partially blocked by the c-myc antisense. However, the extracts significantly inhibited HT-29 cell proliferation and suppressed c-myc expression. In conclusion, cigarette smoke extracts stimulated AGS cell proliferation, while inhibiting HT-29 proliferation, which were partially mediated by a c-myc-related pathway. The former action may play a contributory role in the carcinogenic action of cigarette smoking in the stomach.