Lung cancer is becoming an increasing threat in India. While smoking and pollution are well-known causes, investigators have discovered another risk factor: genetic abnormalities. Recent research shows that these mutations make lung cancer more aggressive and difficult to treat, even with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

According to media reports, a team of researchers from Delhi University's South Campus, Tata Memorial Cancer Centre in Mumbai, and One Cell Diagnosis Centre in Pune conducted a large-scale investigation on lung cancer patients. Their findings, published in the European Society of Medical Oncology Open journal, indicate that the majority of lung cancer patients in India had certain genetic abnormalities. These genetic abnormalities cause cancer to spread quickly, increasing the risk of mortality.

According to Professor Amit Dutta of Delhi University, the primary cause is a mutation in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene. This mutation causes unregulated cell division, resulting in tumours that rapidly spread to the airways. Once cancer cells have spread, it is extremely difficult to control their pproliferation.

Further studies have shown that the EGFR gene is not the only one that is changing. Doctors discovered that the TtumourSsuppressorgene (TSG) is experiencing chemical alterations in many individuals. A study of 483 lung cancer patients found that both of these genes were altered in a number of cases, exacerbating the problem.

Patients with mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene have a better prognosis if properly treated, with survival times exceeding six years. However, when mutations occur in both the EGFR and the Tumour Suppressor Gene (TSG), the situation becomes much more serious. Such circumstances significantly increase the danger, reducing the maximum survival span to just 51 months (or 4.25 years). This dual mutation not only increases cancer spread but also reduces treatment outcomes, underscoring the critical need for better-targeted medicines.

Mutations in both genes increase cancer cells' aggressiveness and resistance to standard treatments. Even when treated with chemotherapy and radiation, these cells continue to grow, making disease control challenging. This is why lung cancer spreads quickly, resulting in worse survival rates for people with dual gene abnormalities.

Experts hope that finding and treating these genetic alterations will pave the way for more effective treatment strategies. Understanding how to prevent or control these alterations may allow us to reduce or even stop the spread of lung cancer. Researchers are now working on ways to prevent these gene alterations, which could greatly increase lung cancer patients' survival rates.

Lung cancer in India is no longer solely the product of lifestyle decisions or environmental exposure. Genetic mutations contribute significantly to the disease's danger and difficulty in treatment. Early detection and gene-targeted medicines may be the key to addressing this expanding epidemic. As researchers continue their work, there is hope that these findings will lead to higher survival rates and better outcomes for lung cancer patients.