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The novel test has the potential to stratify lung cancer risk among both smokers and non-smokers and facilitate the early detection of cancer through improved monitoring.
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Summary UCLA researchers have identified blood markers for predisposition to lung cancer. Background The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 160,000 deaths in the U.S. are due to lung cancer. This is 27% of all cancer-related deaths and lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. Nearly 90% of lung cancer is due to smoking, yet only 10-15% of smokers will develop the disease. These statistics suggest that there is a genetic predisposition to lung cancer, however, there is not much known about genes or mechanism by which an individual is susceptible to developing lung cancer. Innovation Dr. Robert Schiestl and colleagues in the Departments of Pathology and Molecular Toxicology at UCLA have identified blood biomarkers for lung cancer predisposition. Scientists used markers of DNA double strand breaks, oxidative DNA damage, and oxidative protein damage to identify phenotypic biomarkers for cigarette smoke extract-induced genotoxicity. They found trends correlating lung cancer susceptibility to gender, age, smoking history, pack years of cigarettes smoked, and history of other cancers. Interestingly, two biomarkers discovered by the team strongly correlated with high susceptibility to cigarette smoke-induced damage, independent of smoking history. These findings have the potential to stratify lung cancer risk among both smokers and non-smokers and facilitate the early detection of cancer through improved monitoring. Advantages Diagnostic blood tests to screen for lung cancer susceptibility; Risk stratification for smokers and non-smokers; Novel data and biomarkers for cigarette smoke induced toxicity.