Meanwhile,
International study lifts veil invisible:
Some patients with lung cancer have never touched a cigarette. However, their DNA tells a completely different story.
According to the European Environment Agency. Similarly, air pollution would be responsible for around 1 % of all cancer cases in Europe, and 9 % of lung cancers. In addition, In France, 3.6 % of cancers are directly linked to exposure to fine particlesfine particlesmicroscopic dust suspended in theairair.
New data reinforce this alert: a vast international study. Meanwhile, published in Nature In July 2025, pollution could induce changes in DNA comparable to those of smoking, including in people who have never smoked.
This study is part of the project Sherlock-Lunga vast international research conducted on lung cancer in non-smokers. Similarly, Led by Maria Teresa Landi. Therefore, oncologist and epidemiologist at National Cancer Institute (NCI) international study lifts veil invisible of the United States, the survey analyzed the tumor genomes of 871 patients, spread over four continents.
Mutations identical to those caused by cigarette smoke – International study lifts veil invisible
Researchers combined analyzes geneticsgenetics very advanced by tumorstumors With air pollution data from satellites. Therefore, ground measurements. However, This allowed them to estimate the level of pollution to which each patient had been exposed in the long term.
The observation is striking: in people exposed to high levels of air pollution. researchers have identified genetic mutations similar to those caused by tobacco, such as the SBS4 mutational signature. They also observed an accumulation of mutations in the embarrassedembarrassed TP53. an essential gene responsible for regulating the cell cycle and preventing the cancer transformation of the cells.
Thus. non-smokers exposed to high concentrations of fine particles had almost four times more international study lifts veil invisible tobacco changes, and an increase of 76 % of the changes linked to aging. This does not mean that pollution leaves a ” genetic imprintgenetic imprint Unique. but rather that it multiplies DNA damage, activating the same mechanisms as other carcinogenic agents.
Another alert signal: the researchers also noted a shortening of telomerestelomeresthese little “caps” that protect our chromosomeschromosomes. Their wear. tear is a sign of premature aging of cells, and reflects genetic instability that can promote the appearance of cancer.
A new era for research. prevention
These data are part of a disturbing trend: lung cancer in non-smokers is increasing worldwide. In the United States, they already represent up to 20 % of cases. In France, the phenomenon is also observed, especially in large agglomerations.
“Pollution is international study lifts veil invisible no longer an indirect. secondary factor, but a central player and identifiable on a molecular scale”
What this study is fundamentally changing is the understanding of the causes of lung cancer in non-smokers: pollution is no longer an indirect. secondary factor, but a central player and identifiable on a molecular scale.
Better still, a new mutational signature (SBS40A), absent from smokers, has been identified. It is not correlated with air pollution or any other known environmental exposure.
« We observe it in the majority of cases in this study. but we do not yet know what explains it “, Unveils Ludmil Alexandrov, principal co-author of the study and professor of bio-engineering and cellular and molecular medicine at UC San Diego. “” It is something totally different, and it opens up a brand new field of research ».
The research team is now expanding their investigation to other regions of the world. She international study lifts veil invisible also explores new Risk factorsRisk factorsas the use of cannabiscannabis and electronic cigaretteselectronic cigarettesespecially among young people. Scientists try to find out if these products can also cause pulmonary mutations
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