NIH Research Matters November 19, 2007 Scientists Find New
Genetic Alterations in Lung Cancer Researchers have detected
dozens of genetic regions that are altered in lung cancer, the
leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The findings provide
new clues to the biology of lung cancer and will help shape
future strategies for diagnosing and treating the disease. Each
year lung cancer kills more than 1 million people, including
more than 150,000 in the United States. As with most cancers,
lung cancer often arises from genetic changes that build up in
cells throughout a person's lifetime. Despite years of research,
scientists don't fully understand how these genetic changes
trigger the uncontrolled growth of tumor cells. To examine this
complex problem, multidisciplinary teams of scientists are
beginning to use genomic tools in a systematic, comprehensive
approach to cancer research. The latest findings are the first
results from one of these team efforts, known as the Tumor
Sequencing Project. The scientific t