Rare Variant Linked to 25x Lung Cancer Risk in Never-Smokers — SkimNews
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- Researchers published in the journal Science their identification of a rare genetic variant associated with 25-fold higher odds of lung cancer among never-smokers
- The variant is far more common among people in Southern Appalachia than in other U.S. regions, according to the study
- Experts said the variant likely only plays a role in a small portion of never-smoker lung cancer cases, but it provides further evidence these cancers can stem from distinct risk factors
- The investigators relied on genetic data from 23andMe, drawing from large datasets containing health information from millions of people
- The study suggests never-smoker lung tumors tied to such distinct risk factors may require reconsidering screening programs and treatment strategies
Why it matters: The finding supports a shift toward genetics-informed lung cancer screening and treatment, especially in Southern Appalachia where the variant concentrates. It also validates mining consumer genetic databases like 23andMe to surface narrow but actionable discoveries that traditional study cohorts might miss.
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