Lung cancer statistics paint a sobering picture of the disease’s impact. One in every 16 individuals in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer during their lifetime. Although it accounts for only 12% of all new cancer diagnoses, lung cancer claims more lives annually in the U.S. than breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers combined.
Only 25% of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer are expected to survive for 5 years or more. However, the likelihood of surviving at least 5 years increases when lung cancer is detected at an early stage.
The U.S.-based genetic health and biopharmaceutical company 23andMe has partnered with 20 lung cancer advocacy organizations to launch the Lung Cancer Genetics Study. The goal of this study is to expand the understanding of the genetic makeup of individuals with lung cancer and to use that knowledge to enhance detection, reduce risk, and improve patient care.
“There is a great need to better define the underlying genetics of lung cancer,” Courtney Granville, PhD, MSPH, Chief Scientific Officer at GO2 for Lung Cancer, said in a news release. “We are privileged to stand together with the research and patient advocacy communities to contribute to this effort to better define inherited risk for lung cancer.”
This study aims to investigate the genetic foundations of the disease and its underlying causes.
Through this collaboration, advocacy organizations, lung cancer survivors, and 23andMe aim to advance research in the quest to find a cure.
With an enrollment goal of 10,000 participants, the study aims to collect valuable data from a large group of participants to provide a better understanding about the role of genetics in lung cancer.
This dataset will include genetic information and self-reported details about each participant’s unique experiences, collected through responses to online surveys, along with additional data sources such as medical records and tumor biomarker information. However, any identifying information, such as names and contact details, will be excluded from the responses and data.
One limitation is that eligible participants must reside in the U.S., as 23andMe has not received approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to enroll participants from other countries. There are no restrictions regarding the type of lung cancer, stage of the disease, gender, smoking history, biomarkers, or other variables. To expand the program’s geographic reach, the study allows participation from home, which should help address common time and cost barriers that can impede research progress.
The data collected has the potential to benefit patients in the future by identifying new drug targets and mechanisms for drug development, as well as discovering proactive ways to mitigate side effects.
“Studying the genetics of lung cancer can help us understand risks, improve early detection, and develop better treatments. This collaborative effort unites patients, advocates, doctors, and researchers,” Jill Feldman, patient advocate and co-founder of the EGFR Resisters, said in the news release.
Investigators hope the insights gained from the participants’ data in this study will improve outcomes for future generations. More information about the Lung Cancer Genetics Study and how to enroll is available on the 23andMe website.
