WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. researchers have localized a major susceptibility locus that influences lung cancer risk to chromosome 6q23-25, according to a report in the September issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
“The discovery of genes for other types of cancer has led to better understanding of those diseases, which in turn can lead to better strategies for treatment and prevention,” said lead author Dr. Joan E. Bailey-Wilson of the National Human Genome Research Institute.
“We hope that uncovering a gene or genes responsible for lung cancer will do the same for this devastating disease,” she added in a statement.
The team at 12 separate research institutions and universities, including the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute, examined 52 families who had at least three close relatives with lung, throat, or laryngeal cancer.
They used 392 known genetic markers to compare DNA of affected and non-affected family members. The evidence pointed to an area on chromosome 6q23-35.
They also found that some family members who were not carriers developed cancer anyway. This seemed to be related to how much they smoked, the researchers said.
But in the family members who carried the genetic marker, any amount of smoking increased lung cancer risk.
Next, the investigators will examine known genes and perhaps find a new one, said Jonathon Wiest of the NCI. “Often you can discover a new function for a gene that normally works in a different cellular pathway, so you never know what you’re going to find,” he said.
Am J Hum Genet, 2004;75:000-000.
MeSH Headings:Lung Neoplasms: Neoplasms: Neoplasms by Site: Respiratory Tract Neoplasms: Thoracic Neoplasms: DiseasesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
