Gene mutation discovery research of non-smoking lung cancer patients due to indoor radon exposure

Abstract

Although the incidence and mortality for most cancers such as lung and colon are decreasing in several countries, they are increasing in several developed countries because of an unhealthy western lifestyles including smoking, physical inactivity and consumption of calorie-dense food. The incidences for lung and colon cancers in a few of these countries have already exceeded those in the United States and other western countries. Among them, lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death in worldwide. The cumulative survival rate at five years differs between 13 and 21 % in several countries. Although the most important risk factors are smoking for lung cancer, however, the increased incidence of lung cancer in never smokers(LCINS) is necessary to improve knowledge concerning other risk factors. Environmental factors and genetic susceptibility are also thought to contribute to lung cancer risk. Patients with lung adenocarcinoma who have never smoking frequently contain mutation within tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene. Also, K-ras mutations are more common in individuals with a history of smoking use and are related with resistance to EFGR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Recently, radon(Rn), natural and noble gas, has been recognized as second common reason of lung cancer. In this review, we aim to know whether residential radon is associated with an increased risk for developing lung cancer and regulated by several genetic polymorphisms.

Novel Genetic Associations Between Lung Cancer and Indoor Radon Exposure

“…Radon is the second leading cause of LCINS. 15 , 16 Feasibly, biologic mechanisms by which radon emissions might elevate the risk for LCINS include genetic alterations, upregulation or downregulation of cytokines, and production of proteins related to the cell cycle. 16 Among these, genetic alterations of pathways involved in detoxification of environmental carcinogens have been shown to heighten lung cancer risk.…”

Correlation between gene polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GSTP1, ERCC2, XRCC1, and XRCC3 and susceptibility to lung cancer

“…Several genes are associated with the occurrence of lung cancer (Liu, et al, 2015); epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) are the most commonly mutated genes in lung cancer patients (Choi et al, 2016). However, the drugs that are commonly used to treat such patients are not universally effective.…”

Gene polymorphism of DNA repair gene X‐ray repair cross complementing group 1 and xeroderma pigmentosum group D and environment interaction in non‐small‐cell lung cancer for Chinese nonsmoking female patients

“…NSCLC in never smokers is clinically characterized by an increased incidence in female patients and a higher occurrence of adenocarcinoma . Smoking was currently recognized as an important factor of the lung cancer, but the lung cancer incidence of nonsmokers was still high, which therefore declared that the role of environmental factors could not be ignored. The environmental factors included passive smoking, indoor pollution, unventilated room heating, high‐temperature cooking pot smoke and steam, which were regarded as the risk factors for Chinese female patients suffering from lung cancer .…”