When it comes to lung cancer and one of its main causes – smoking – there is always a "controversy".
There are elderly people who smoke until the age of 90 and are still healthy, and there are also young people who have never smoked and have little exposure to secondhand smoke but have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Why can you get cancer if you never smoke?
Image source: 123RF
There are many people who do not smoke but suffer from lung cancer. Globally, more than 2 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year, and 10%-20% of these patients have no history of smoking.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have conducted research to uncover why.
A total of 232 non-small cell carcinoma patients (mainly of European ancestry) with no smoking history participated in the study, of which 62 participants had no history of exposure to secondhand smoke. The researchers used whole-genome sequencing to characterize genomic changes in tumor tissues and matched the participants' normal tissues.
After combing through the mutational signatures of the tumor genome, the researchers found that most of the tumor genomes of patients with no smoking history had mutational signatures associated with damage to endogenous processes, i.e., natural processes occurring in the body.
Through genomic analysis, the researchers also identified three molecular subtypes present in these patients with no smoking history:
Piano subtype: predominant, with the lowest levels of mutations. It is related to the activation of progenitor cells, which are involved in the production of new cells. This tumor subtype grows extremely slowly over many years and is difficult to treat because it can have many different driver mutations.
Mezzo-forte subtype: with specific chromosomal changes and mutations in the growth factor receptor gene EGFR, which is usually altered in lung cancer, the tumor also grows faster.
Forte subtype: exhibits features of genome-wide doubling, a genomic change common in lung cancer in smokers. This tumor subtype is also characterized by rapid growth.
Image source: 123RF
Genes are endogenous factors that we can't control. If we want to stay away from lung cancer, we can do a good job in the prevention and control of exogenous influencing factors.
- 1. Don't smoke and stay away from second-hand smoke
Research data shows that smokers have a 277% higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers. Those who smoke<d 15, 15-24, and ≥ 25 cigarettes per day had a 190%, 268%, and 359% higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers.
People exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace have a 178% higher risk of developing lung cancer than those without exposure to secondhand smoke, and those exposed to secondhand smoke in the home have a 153% higher risk of developing lung cancer than those without exposure to secondhand smoke.
2. Prevention and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes airflow to the lungs to be blocked. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, producing mucus (phlegm), and wheezing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to alveolar destruction, bronchial stenosis, and end-stage irreversible pulmonary dysfunction. Patients with COPD have a 222% higher risk of developing lung cancer than non-patients.
3. Prevention of occupational exposure
Occupational exposure is also one of the important causes of lung cancer, and the dangerous elements involved are:
Radon: building foundations (soil and rock), building materials, domestic water, combustion of natural gas and coal, etc.
Beryllium: It is widely found in the aerospace, communications, electronics and nuclear industries.
Nickel: The metal nickel and its compounds are widely used in industrial production processes such as nickel refining and electroplating. 、
Soot and soot: Household coal use significantly increases the risk of cancer in people who are exposed to soot.
In addition to the above, there are asbestos, chromium, cadmium, silica, etc. Personnel in relevant occupations should take effective preventive measures according to the nature of the exposure.
References[1] Chinese Lung Cancer Screening, Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment Guidelines Advisory Group, Chinese Lung Cancer Screening, Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment Guidelines (2021, Beijing), Chinese Journal of Oncology, 2021, 43(3) : 243-268. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20210119-00060[2]NIH study illuminates origins of lung cancer in never smokers, Retrieved Feb 28, 2024 from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-illuminates-origins-lung-cancer-never-smokers disclaimer: WuXi AppTec's content team focuses on global biomedical health research progress. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the position of WuXi AppTec, nor do they imply endorsement or opposition to the views expressed herein. This article is not a recommendation for a treatment option. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Source: Health Squeezing Machine's WeChat public account
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