Genetic evidence linking lung cancer and COPD: a new perspective.

ABSTRACT: 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 lo

SUBMITTER: Young RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3681182 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature