PRS linked to lung adenocarcinoma risk in never-smokers

A higher polygenic risk score (PRS) is significantly associated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma among never-smokers, suggests a study. This effect is not observed among smokers. 

Data from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) project, conducted between June 2019 and November 2022, was used in this retrospective case-control study. Patients with lung adenocarcinoma were matched 1:4 to nonlung cancer controls according to age, gender, and index year. Finally, the researchers analysed PRS, smoking status, and exposures to PM2.5 and PM10 among participants. 

Overall, 681 lung adenocarcinoma patients and 2,724 nonlung cancer participants were included in the study. PRS was found to be higher among patients with lung adenocarcinoma than controls (p<0.001). 

A higher PRS showed a significant correlation with a higher risk of lung adenocarcinoma. Among never-smokers with low genetic risk, high exposure to PM2.5 significantly correlated with an elevated risk of lung adenocarcinoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.88, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.12–3.14; p=0.0163). 

In addition, never-smokers with a higher genetic risk had a higher likelihood of developing lung adenocarcinoma, with the highest odds seen among Q4 participants with high PM2.5 exposure (OR, 4.97, 95 percent CI, 3.10–7.97; p<0.001). PM2.5 exposure had no significant effect among individuals with higher genetic risks. 

PM10 analyses revealed similar results. No significant associations between PRS and risk of lung adenocarcinoma were noted among smokers. 

“The results were consistent among participants exposed to different air pollution levels,” the researchers said.