In a promising step forward, new research seeks to expand the understanding of the inherited risk for lung cancer.
GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) is collaborating with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber), and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), GO2’s medical research consortium, to expand on earlier research that identified one specific inherited genetic mutation in the EGFR gene. This finding proved that families who carry a mutation called T790M in the EGFR gene have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
The latest study, called INHERIT, is the next round of patient-driven clinical research. It will include significantly more people and examine additional markers of genetic risk. Researchers will track participants over approximately five years to see how lung cancer can be predicted in those with certain genetics and a family history of lung cancer.
“This vital research will delve deeper into increasing our understanding of the inherited components and genetic changes that may predispose people to greater risk for lung cancer,” says GO2 President & CEO Laurie Ambrose. “This has been a long-standing and primary research focus of ours for years, and we could not be more excited to expand our patient-driven partnership to achieve transformational change for our community.”
Breaking the cycle
The genetic risk that contributes to breast, ovarian, and colon cancer has been well studied, but much less is known about the inherited risk for lung cancer. The disease can run in families or develop in people at early ages and without exposure to tobacco products. Some people may have underlying genetics that they may have inherited from one or both parents, putting them at higher risk for the disease.
Take, for example, Danielle Hicks and Andrea Parks, sisters who come from a family with a history of lung cancer spanning three generations. They are helping confront lung cancer by enrolling in the INHERIT study.
“My great-grandfather, grandmother, great-aunt, and great-uncle all passed away from lung cancer. My mother was also diagnosed and is the only one who survived the disease,” says GO2 for Lung Cancer Chief Patient Officer Danielle Hicks. “Because of my strong family history, I knew I wanted to enroll to give back to science and contribute to potential discoveries that could help millions of people every year. INHERIT looks at families like mine to understand who is at risk for lung cancer, which is essential for future screening and prevention research.”
She adds, “I have three children and three grandchildren to think about, not to mention siblings, cousins, and nieces. This study has the potential to break the cycle of a late-stage lung cancer diagnosis that has run rampant in my family for decades.”
A collaborative partnership
INHERIT is open to anyone with lung cancer who also has a strong family history of lung cancer or certain genetics that may be associated with lung cancer risk. Additionally, those who do not have lung cancer but have an extended family history of lung cancer and/or certain genetics could be eligible.
“Dana-Farber is excited to build on the momentum of this work and expand our collaborative efforts to increase our understanding of the genetic risk for developing lung cancer,” says Principal Investigator Pasi A. Jänne, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Investigator Jaclyn LoPiccolo, M.D., Ph.D., adds, “We look forward to seeing how lung cancer presents in certain people or families with elevated genetic risk, how changes in lung cancer tumors occur in these people, and ways to better predict lung cancer risk for certain groups of people.”
“Our collaborative partnership is uniquely positioned with all the necessary assets to accelerate scientific breakthroughs to improve prevention, screening, treatment, and ultimately increased survival for people who are at risk,” ALCMI Executive Director Richard Erwin says. Find more information about the study here.
