Can a gene involved in lung cancer offer a potential new treatment?

The link between smoking and lung cancer is well known. Research has shown that when cigarette smoke is inhaled, chemicals in the smoke damage the DNA of lung cells and this damage can lead to gene mutations. If the damaged genes normally play a part in keeping the lung cell healthy, this can lead to lung cancer.

Dr Sharp and his colleagues have shown a link between lung cancer and damage to a gene called 'LIMD1'. However, it is not known if damage to this gene is common in many cases of lung cancer.

Dr Sharp and his team plan to take DNA samples from people with lung cancer and look at whether the LIMD1 gene is consistently damaged. If this is the case, LIMD1 damage might be a useful marker that can be used to diagnose lung cancer in its early stages, and replacement of an undamaged LIMD1 gene might be a possible new therapy for treatment.