Gene can lead to lung cancer in non-smokers

1056AM GMT twenty-one March 2010

Mutations in the gene could lead to a "significantly higher risk" of lung cancer between those who have not smoked cigarettes.

The research, published in The Lancet Oncology, suggests that targeting the gene could lead to new treatments for the disease, and additionally brand high risk patients early.

Gene new thing paves approach for nicotine-free cigarettes Gene new thing to have smoking less addictive Could genes be a looseness to smoke? Genes insist because a little drinkers and smokers die young, whilst others shun Romantic candles could means cancer, contend scientists

The group complicated those who have never smoked - personal as those who have smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.

Ping Yang, from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, USA, led an general group that carefully thought about DNA samples from 754 people who had never smoked.

They analysed DNA to find the genetic variations majority expected to lead to lung cancer in non smokers.

Tests showed that levels of a gene called GPC5 were 50 per cent reduce in adenocarcinoma - the majority usual form of lung cancer - than in suited normal lung tissue, indicating that reduce levels could be specific to adenocarcinoma in never smokers.

Ramaswamy Govindan, of Washington University, pronounced "Even though this investigate reports a two-fold rebate in GPC5 countenance in adenocarcinoma tissues compared to suited normal controls, it is far from transparent how marked down GPC5 countenance could prejudice people to lung cancer.

"More studies are indispensable to endorse these rough observations in the swelling samples from those with no story of tobacco smoking."