Genetic Predisposition to Lung Cancer May Be Greater in Women Than in Men

Women are more likely than men to be genetically predisposed to lung cancer, according to research presented at the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

Researchers also found evidence to suggest that a family history of cancer predicts lung cancer risk, particularly in patients who are 50 years of age or younger.

For this study, researchers used big data and artificial intelligence to assess genetic susceptibility to lung cancer. The researchers analyzed data merged from electronic health records, the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda database, and the Thoracic Tumors Registry from the Spanish Lung Cancer Group.

The analysis included 5824 patients with lung cancer — 939 who had a history of cancer, 4849 who did not, and 36 who had an unknown cancer history.

The data suggested that genetic susceptibility to lung cancer is higher in women (58.48%).

The researchers also found that 9.53% of the lung cancer patients had an EGFR mutation, ALK translocation, or HER2 mutation, in addition to having at least 1 relative with cancer.

Another finding was that familial lung cancer was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer due to smoking habits, according to study presenter Virginia Calvo de Juan, MD, PhD, of the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda in Madrid.

Dr Calvo de Juan also noted that lung cancer patients who were 50 years of age or younger had 2 or more relatives with cancer.

“Family history of cancer is a potential risk factor and a predictor of an increased risk of developing lung cancer, especially in those aged less than 50 years,” Dr Calvo de Juan said.

Disclosures: No disclosures were provided.

Reference

Calvo V, Vidal ME, Niazmand E, et al. Big data and artificial intelligence for exploring the role of genetic risk. Family history of cancer and lung cancer. Results from CLARIFY. Presented at WCLC 2023. September 9-12, 2023. Abstract MA03.11.

This article originally appeared on Cancer Therapy Advisor