Gene may increase smokers' risk of lung cancer, studies say
Apr. 3, 2008
Jeremy Manier - Chicago TribuneIssue date: 4/3/08 Section: MCT News
CHICAGO _ In the latest project to use the findings of human genome research to assess individual health risks, a suite of new studies has found a genetic variant that can increase smokers' risk of getting lung cancer by as much as 80 percent.
One of the research teams, deCODE Genetics of Iceland, already has incorporated the discovery into a package of tests it sells to the public, offering consumers genetic profiles that estimate a person's risk for 26 conditions including prostate cancer, diabetes and even male-pattern baldness.
Authors of the three cancer reports published Wednesday in the journal Nature employed a powerful new method to scan thousands of people's genomes looking for links to disease. The results suggest that scientists are beginning to reap the benefits of the Human Genome Project, which promised a new era of personalized medicine based on an individual's genetic risks.
But experts caution that many of the emerging tests are brand new and have severe limitations.
For example, none of the new findings in the new lung cancer study would change doctors' basic advice regarding cigarettes: If you don't smoke, don't start, and if you do smoke, try to quit.
Kari Stefansson, chief executive officer of the Icelandic company, conceded that its lung cancer test would not aid a typical person's health decisions but argued that "knowledge is never evil in and of itself."
"As a diagnostic test, I think, it is of no value," said Stefansson, who also co-wrote his team's report. "I am actually even a little bit afraid that some may look at it as a green light to smoke, and that's something I would not want to contribute to." Several experts pointed out that although an 80 percent higher risk may sound significant, all smokers are at high risk of lung cancer. The risk for smokers without the genetic variant is about 14 percent, compared with 23 percent for those with the variant.
The usefulness of such genetic information for ordinary consumers is a subject of intense debate among researchers and genetic counselors.
One of the research teams, deCODE Genetics of Iceland, already has incorporated the discovery into a package of tests it sells to the public, offering consumers genetic profiles that estimate a person's risk for 26 conditions including prostate cancer, diabetes and even male-pattern baldness.
Authors of the three cancer reports published Wednesday in the journal Nature employed a powerful new method to scan thousands of people's genomes looking for links to disease. The results suggest that scientists are beginning to reap the benefits of the Human Genome Project, which promised a new era of personalized medicine based on an individual's genetic risks.
But experts caution that many of the emerging tests are brand new and have severe limitations.
For example, none of the new findings in the new lung cancer study would change doctors' basic advice regarding cigarettes: If you don't smoke, don't start, and if you do smoke, try to quit.
Kari Stefansson, chief executive officer of the Icelandic company, conceded that its lung cancer test would not aid a typical person's health decisions but argued that "knowledge is never evil in and of itself."
"As a diagnostic test, I think, it is of no value," said Stefansson, who also co-wrote his team's report. "I am actually even a little bit afraid that some may look at it as a green light to smoke, and that's something I would not want to contribute to." Several experts pointed out that although an 80 percent higher risk may sound significant, all smokers are at high risk of lung cancer. The risk for smokers without the genetic variant is about 14 percent, compared with 23 percent for those with the variant.
The usefulness of such genetic information for ordinary consumers is a subject of intense debate among researchers and genetic counselors.
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