Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective

Robert P Young1,4, Raewyn J Hopkins1, Gregory D Gamble1, Carol Etzel2, Randa El-Zein2, James D Crapo31Department of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Department of Epidemiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 3National Jewish...

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Main Authors: Crapo JD, El-Zein R, Etzel C, Gamble GD, Hopkins RJ, Young RP
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2011-07-01
Series:The Application of Clinical Genetics
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/genetic-evidence-linking-lung-cancer-and-copd-a-new-perspective-a7891
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spelling doaj-1083263ab8dd4a3797ad575da73971252020-11-24T22:10:15ZengDove Medical PressThe Application of Clinical Genetics1178-704X2011-07-012011default99111Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspectiveCrapo JDEl-Zein REtzel CGamble GDHopkins RJYoung RPRobert P Young1,4, Raewyn J Hopkins1, Gregory D Gamble1, Carol Etzel2, Randa El-Zein2, James D Crapo31Department of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Department of Epidemiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 3National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 4Synergenz Biosciences Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandAbstract: Epidemiological studies indicate that tobacco smoke exposure accounts for nearly 90% of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. However, genetic factors may explain why 10%–30% of smokers develop these complications. This perspective reviews the evidence suggesting that COPD is closely linked to susceptibility to lung cancer and outlines the potential relevance of this observation. Epidemiological studies show that COPD is the single most important risk factor for lung cancer among smokers and predates lung cancer in up to 80% of cases. Genome-wide association studies of lung cancer, lung function, and COPD have identified a number of overlapping “susceptibility” loci. With stringent phenotyping, it has recently been shown that several of these overlapping loci are independently associated with both COPD and lung cancer. These loci implicate genes underlying pulmonary inflammation and apoptotic processes mediated by the bronchial epithelium, and link COPD with lung cancer at a molecular genetic level. It is currently possible to derive risk models for lung cancer that incorporate lung cancer-specific genetic variants, recently identified “COPD-related” genetic variants, and clinical variables. Early studies suggest that single nucleotide polymorphism-based risk stratification of smokers might help better target novel prevention and early diagnostic strategies in lung cancer.Keywords: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, association study, single nucleotide polymorphism, risk modelhttp://www.dovepress.com/genetic-evidence-linking-lung-cancer-and-copd-a-new-perspective-a7891
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Crapo JD
El-Zein R
Etzel C
Gamble GD
Hopkins RJ
Young RP
spellingShingle Crapo JD
El-Zein R
Etzel C
Gamble GD
Hopkins RJ
Young RP
Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
The Application of Clinical Genetics
author_facet Crapo JD
El-Zein R
Etzel C
Gamble GD
Hopkins RJ
Young RP
author_sort Crapo JD
title Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
title_short Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
title_full Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
title_fullStr Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
title_full_unstemmed Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective
title_sort genetic evidence linking lung cancer and copd: a new perspective
publisher Dove Medical Press
series The Application of Clinical Genetics
issn 1178-704X
publishDate 2011-07-01
description Robert P Young1,4, Raewyn J Hopkins1, Gregory D Gamble1, Carol Etzel2, Randa El-Zein2, James D Crapo31Department of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Department of Epidemiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 3National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 4Synergenz Biosciences Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandAbstract: Epidemiological studies indicate that tobacco smoke exposure accounts for nearly 90% of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. However, genetic factors may explain why 10%–30% of smokers develop these complications. This perspective reviews the evidence suggesting that COPD is closely linked to susceptibility to lung cancer and outlines the potential relevance of this observation. Epidemiological studies show that COPD is the single most important risk factor for lung cancer among smokers and predates lung cancer in up to 80% of cases. Genome-wide association studies of lung cancer, lung function, and COPD have identified a number of overlapping “susceptibility” loci. With stringent phenotyping, it has recently been shown that several of these overlapping loci are independently associated with both COPD and lung cancer. These loci implicate genes underlying pulmonary inflammation and apoptotic processes mediated by the bronchial epithelium, and link COPD with lung cancer at a molecular genetic level. It is currently possible to derive risk models for lung cancer that incorporate lung cancer-specific genetic variants, recently identified “COPD-related” genetic variants, and clinical variables. Early studies suggest that single nucleotide polymorphism-based risk stratification of smokers might help better target novel prevention and early diagnostic strategies in lung cancer.Keywords: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, association study, single nucleotide polymorphism, risk model
url http://www.dovepress.com/genetic-evidence-linking-lung-cancer-and-copd-a-new-perspective-a7891
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