CCUN expands patient population in its study of lung cancer risk in smokers

Alliance of Light Ambitionsinternational initiative promoted AstraZenecaawarded a research project led by specialists from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN) Cancer Center, which aims to identify genetic biomarkers this explains why some smokers never develop lung cancereven in old age, while others develop it at an early age. The €180,000 financial award will enable the study of a large population, including people with different types of the disease, and the results to be analyzed using state-of-the-art genetics, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.

According to the doctor Jose Luis Perez Gracia, CCUN Lung Cancer Specialist and Principal Investigator of this project, “We know that there are people who are more susceptible than others to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco. Our goal is to characterize the genetic profiles associated with these extreme phenotypes, which are very important from a clinical point of view.”

The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Genomic Medicine of the University Hospital of Navarra, under the leadership of Dr. K. Ana Patiño and with CIMA LAB diagnostics. Bioinformatics and artificial intelligence analysis will be carried out by the Bioinformatics Platform of the Cima University of Navarra and the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of the Tecnun School of Engineering. For this, Whole exome germline DNA of 500 patients will be sequenced with extreme phenotypes of very high and low risk of tobacco-related lung cancer. This technique allows for a comprehensive analysis of all coding regions of DNA, where the majority of mutations that can affect the function of proteins and are involved in the development of diseases are found. “Improving the identification of people at high risk of developing lung cancer can improve the effectiveness of prevention and early diagnosis programs and establish new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic targets.”says Dr. Perez Gracia.

The first results of the project were published in the journal electronic biomedicinefrom The Lancet panel and presented at the American Society of Medical Oncology (ASCO) Congress. The study confirmed that heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes per day) who develop lung cancer either early in life or do not develop lung cancer in old age (extremely high and low risk phenotypes) have different genetic profileswhich may be useful for identifying high-risk patients and identifying new therapeutic strategies.

DNA samples will be obtained through International Lung Cancer Consortiuma group dependent on the World Health Organization, of which CCUN is part. AstraZeneca emphasized “scientific and technical validity of the project, its applicability and expected effect” at the awards ceremony.