The modifying effects of cigarette smoke (CS) exposure on a heterocyclic amine (HCA) 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx)-induced carcinogenesis were investigated in male F344 rats. Groups 1 and 2 were fed MeIQx at a dose of 300 ppm, and simultaneously received CS and sham smoke (SS) for 16 weeks, respectively. Groups 3 - 5 were given the MeIQx diet for 4 weeks, and simultaneously exposed to CS for 4 weeks (group 3), exposed to CS for 12 weeks after the MeIQx treatment (group 4) or received SS for 16 weeks (group 5). Groups 6 and 7 were fed basal diet and respectively received CS and SS for 16 weeks. In terms of the mean number or area, the development of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive (GST-P(+)) liver cell foci was significantly (P < 0.01) greater in group 1 than in group 2. The mean number of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACFs) per animal was increased by continuous CS exposure regardless of MeIQx feeding, the differences between groups 4 and 5 (P < 0.05), and between groups 6 and 7 (P < 0.05) being significant. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that the hepatic CYP1A2 level in group 6 was remarkably increased as compared to that in group 7. In addition, liver S9 from rats in group 6 consistently increased the mutagenic activities of six HCAs including MeIQx as compared to those in group 7. Thus, our results clearly indicate that CS enhances hepatocarcinogenesis when given in the initiation phase via increasing intensity of metabolic activation for MeIQx and possibly colon carcinogenesis when given in the post-initiation phase in rats induced by MeIQx.