A recent study published in Nature has found a strong association between fine-particulate air pollution and increased genomic changes in lung cancer tumors among people who have never smoked. Conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of California, San Diego, the Sherlock-Lung study analyzed lung tumors from 871 non-smoker patients across 28 geographic locations worldwide.
The research found that air pollution exposure was linked to changes in the TP53 gene, a genetic mutation previously associated with tobacco smoking. Additionally, fine particulate air pollution was found to be associated with premature shortening of telomeres, which are sections of DNA at the end of chromosomes. This is particularly concerning as shorter telomeres can lead to cells’ inability to replicate.
In contrast, exposure to secondhand smoke was only slightly associated with higher mutation burdens and shorter telomeres compared to tumors in patients who were not exposed. However, it did not lead to an increase in cancer-driving mutations or mutational signatures, suggesting that secondhand smoke may have a lower overall ability to cause genetic mutations.
This study fills a significant gap in our understanding of how lung cancer develops in people who have never used tobacco and provides insights into the primary drivers of lung cancer in this population. With lung cancer representing up to 25% of all cases globally, this research has the potential to inform prevention strategies for never-smokers.
Source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-links-particulate-air-pollution-increased-mutations-lung-cancers-among-nonsmokers