Variations in a gene called GPC5 have been identified which might contribute to a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer in people who have never smoked. The findings, from genome-wide association studies to outline the genetic changes involved in lung cancer in never smokers, suggest that GPC5 might be a new target for investigation and drug development, and could be used to identify high-risk individuals. Lung cancer in people who have never smoked (defined as those who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes) is an increasing public-health problem, responsible for 25 percent of all lung cancer cases worldwide. Despite attempts to identify the specific genetic mechanisms responsible, the causes of lung cancer in never-smokers have remained poorly understood. Recent studies have identified several candidate genes that have a moderate effect on the risk of lung cancer, but no study has identified the genetic basis of lung cancer in never smokers. "This is the first gene that has been found that is specifically associated with lung cancer in people who have never smoked," said the study's senior author, Mayo Clinic genetic epidemiologist Dr. Ping Yang. "What's more, our findings suggest GPC5 may be a critical gene in lung cancer development and genetic variations of this gene may significantly contribute to increased risk of lung cancer," she said. "This is very exciting. Findings from this study concern pure lung cancer that is not caused by smoking, and it gives us some wonderful new avenues to explore. Our suspicion all along is that this is a distinct disease, and that is why we undertook this study," Dr. Yang said.
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