Lung Cancer Rates Vary Based on Certain Genetic Factors

Countless studies and personal accounts have shown time and time again that smoking is dangerous, can lead to serious health issues and above all, can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer. Some statistics even suggest that lung cancer is responsible for more deaths in the United States than colon, breast and pancreatic cancers, combined.

Despite health warnings and campaigns to prevent this health issue, some U.S. states have not picked up on the message. However, risk isn't always just about preventative measures; sometimes, it's also about certain genetic factors, too.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute found that lung cancer rates vary drastically throughout the nation based on sex, race, age and cancer subtype.

Lead researcher Denise Riedel Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the institute looked to update overall information on lung cancers and rates based on subtypes, including squamous cell, small cell, adenocarcinoma, large cell and unspecified carcinomas.

Researchers examined data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program that involved white and African-American lung cancer patients diagnosed between 1977-2010, along with white non-Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders and white Hispanics lung cancer patients diagnosed from 1992-2010.

Though findings revealed that rates for squamous and small cell carcinomas had fallen overall for racial, ethnic and gender groups since the 1990s, there was a more dramatic difference among males than females. Yet from 2006-2010, the rates for every racial and gender group increased.

"It is important to monitor these changes as clinical cancer experts diagnose lung cancer and offer treatment based on specific characteristics of the cancer," said Dr. Lewis, in a news release. "These results can serve as a place marker for our population's changing lung exposures."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the study "U.S. lung cancer trends by histologic type," published in the journal, Cancer.