Analysis of differences in gene expression in cells lining the nose of smokers with and without lung cancer compared with healthy volunteers has revealed that immune and inflammatory alterations increase the risk of lung cancer and this risk can persist for many years after smoking cessation.
The study, published in Genome Medicine, showed that the underlying genetic background influences how people respond to cigarette smoke and can affect lung cancer risk.
The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, has been undertaken over the last 10 years by Robert Rintoul, co-lead Thoracic Cancer Programme and Royal Papworth Hospital, and Bruce Ponder, former Director CRUK Cambridge Institute and Centre, and Emeritus Professor of Oncology, with colleagues in Cambridge, Berlin and Cologne.
