BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Gene variations are linked to an increased risk for lung cancer in people who have never smoked, according to a recent study results.
The research team co-led by scientists from Mayo Clinic and Harvard University reported that the same uncommon variant, residing in a gene known as GPC5, has been found in 30 percent of patients who never smoked and who developed lung cancer, after analyzing DNA from more than 2,000 people.
Researchers found that this allele leads to greatly reduced GPC5 expression, compared to normal lung tissue, which suggests that the gene has an important tumor suppressor-like function and that insufficient function can promote lung cancer development.
M.D., Ph.D Ping Yang, the study's leading researcher, said, "This is the first gene that has been found that is specifically associated with lung cancer in people who have never smoked."
"What's more, our findings suggest GPC5 may be a critical gene in lung cancer development and genetic variations of this gene may significantly contribute to increased risk of lung cancer," she added.
"Findings from this study concern pure lung cancer that is not caused by smoking, and it gives us some wonderful new avenues to explore."
To date, little has been known about the GPC5 gene, except that it can be over-expressed in multiple sclerosis, and that alterations in the genome where GPC5 is located are a common event in a wide variety of human tumors.
(Agencies)
