Smokers can 'inherit' cancer risk

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London and Surrey, found three “letter changes” more common among lung cancer patients when they scanned the genetic codes of over 7,000 people.

These alterations are located in a family of genes that influences smoking behaviour and tobacco consumption, and also affect cell growth and cell death, scientists said.

The research found that current of former smokers who carried two copies of each variant increased their risk of lung cancer by 80%, while those with only one copy of each variant had a 28% higher risk.

Although non-smokers also had the variants, they were not affected by these alterations in the same way as smokers.

Study leader Professor Richard Houlston, from the ICR, said: “This research confirms work done at the ICR and elsewhere that has previously implicated these areas in lung cancer risk and the type that develops.

“The next step is to dig deeper to pinpoint which gene or genes cause the increased risk of developing lung cancer and how they actually trigger this increase.’

The study was funded by charity Cancer Research UK.

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