Scientists Discover Gene Linked to Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

Scientists have discovered what they claim is a common gene that raises the risk of developing lung cancer in non-smokers, a breakthrough which may pave the way for new targeted therapies for patients.

Gene linked to lung cancer in ‘never-smokers’

Despite several attempts to identify the specific genetic mechanisms responsible, the causes of lung cancer in “never-smokers” remain poorly understood. Now, an international team, led by Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in New York, has identified the gene known as GPC5 which predisposes non-smokers to lung cancer, leading British newspaper ‘The Times’ reported.
In their research, the scientists, led by Ping Yang, examined DNA samples from 754 “never-smokers”, and analysed more than 300,000 DNA variants known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).
These were compared with samples from members of the public matched to patients by age, sex and ethnicity to show the genetic variations most likely to alter the risk of lung cancer in never-smokers.








link from impact lab