In this enlightening episode, Dr. Zhenqiu Huang from the Department of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine delves into the intriguing world of lung cancer risk among smokers. While it's known that the risk is dependent on the dose of smoking, the mystery surrounding whether this increased risk is a result of an uptick in the rate of somatic mutation accumulation in normal lung cells remains. Through extensive research, including single-cell whole-genome sequencing and analysis of both age and smoking status, Dr. Huang and his team have unraveled some of these enigmas. Listen in to understand why most smokers never get lung cancer and discover the intrinsic factors that may attenuate lung cancer risk by reducing mutations.

Key Words:

Lung cancer, Somatic mutations, Smokers, Non-smokers

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Single-cell whole-genome sequencing, DNA repair, Detoxification, Tobacco smoke, Mutation accumulation, Bronchial cells, Aging, AKR1C2, PAHs, DNA damage

Don't miss this insightful dive into the intricate relationship between smoking, aging, and the potential for developing lung cancer.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01035-w