26 More Genes Associated with Most Common Form of Lung Cancer Identified

By Aaron Poehler

Published on October 22, 2008

The findings of a study published in the Oct. 23 issue of the journal Nature show that researchers have identified 26 genes associated with adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

The study, known as the Tumor Sequencing Project and funded by the National Institutes of Health, analyzed DNA sequences obtained from 623 genes from tumor samples taken from 188 patients suffering from adenocarcinoma. Researchers identified 26 genes that were commonly altered in the tumor samples and mutated at high frequency, including 6 of the 10 which were previously known. Of the 10 already known genes, only half had previously been shown to mutate at high frequency.

Spokesmen for the Project stated that the study's finding may help medical professionals identify which patients might benefit most from which cancer treatment drugs, as well as aid in the development in new drug treatments. Some estimates of the potential market for non-small cell lung cancer drugs indicate that sales could top $4 billion between 2010 and 2015.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, killing over 160,000 Americans each year and over a million worldwide. Adenocarcinoma accounts for 40 percent of annual lung cancer deaths, with an average five-year survival rate of 15 percent.

 

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