Gene that protects against lung cancer identified

Researchers have identified a gene that appears to offer protection against lung cancer.

Dr Tyson Sharp from the University of Nottingham in England and colleagues compared healthy lung tissue with that from lung cancer patients. Results showed that the tumor suppressor gene LIMD1, which is located on located on a part of chromosome 3 called 3p21, was absent in the majority of tissue samples from lung cancer patients. Following their discovery, the researchers bred mice that lacked the LIMD1 gene. All of the mice went on to develop lung cancer. Together, these findings suggest that the gene protects the body against lung cancer.

“Chromosome 3p21 is often deleted very early on in the development of lung cancer due to the toxic chemicals in cigarettes, which implies that inactivation of LIMD1 could be a particularly important event in early stages of lung cancer development, said Dr Sharp in a news release. “We are now going to extend these finding by developing LIMD1 as a novel prognostic tool for detection of early stage lung cancer.”

The discovery also raises hope of new treatments for lung cancer.
 
News release: Gene which protects against lung cancer identified. The University of Nottingham. December 2nd 2008.