De ce fac cancer pulmonar oameni care nu au fumat niciodată? Analiză pe 3,3 milioane de persoane

A rare inherited genetic variant significantly increases lung cancer risk in non-smokers, with a study involving over 3 million participants revealing a 62-fold risk. The variant, EGFR T790M, is linked to early onset of lung cancer, typically diagnosed before age 60. While the mutation is prevalent among certain populations in the U.S., its frequency is much lower in Europe. Current screening primarily targets smokers, leaving non-smoking carriers of this variant without adequate monitoring. Researchers emphasize the need for further studies to understand why some carriers develop cancer while others do not, and to explore the potential for genetic risk to inform screening practices.