Two classic lyrics joined by a contemporary tune-environmental pro-carcinogen exposure and genetic susceptibility in lung cancer risk

摘要

In this issue, we present two articles on an aged topic: why does a person develop lung cancer? An unarguable answer is tobacco smoking exposure, voluntary or involuntary. With the knowledge gained on smoking-related harm and tobacco control policy implemented over the past three decades, attention to the causes of lung cancer beyond smoking gradually rises from the horizon. Evidence supporting other causes leading to lung cancer stems from two main roots: nontobacco smoke-related environmental exposures and individual's intrinsic susceptibility. Specifically, one rooted from a collection of other environmental hazards potentiated from ambient air pollution (outdoor or indoor), diet, and occupational exposure to carcinogen-containing material, food, or surrounding space, e.g., asbestos and radioactive gas; another is from the growing body of studies showing genetic predisposition or individual susceptibility underlying high or low risk to develop lung cancer. However, teasing apart the relative importance of genes and environment, and the interactions of the two, has been and continues to be a challenge to the researchers and all interested parties.