Lung Cancer Can Run in the Family

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The current study followed more than 102,000 middle-aged and older Japanese adults for as long as 13 years; there were more women (53,421) than men (48,834). During the study period, 791 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed.

The researchers found that having a first-degree relative with lung cancer nearly doubled the odds of developing lung cancer. The association was even stronger for women. Women who had a first-degree relative with lung cancer almost had triple the risk of lung cancer, while men with a first-degree relative with lung cancer had about a 70 percent higher risk.

Additionally, people who had never smoked had a higher risk of developing lung cancer themselves if they had a first-degree relative with the disease than did smokers with close family members with lung cancer.

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Family history was also more strongly associated with a particular type of lung cancer -- squamous cell carcinoma.

Brooks and Dr. Ann G. Schwartz, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal, both said it wasn't clear why family history would confer a greater risk for women than for men. Schwartz said one possibility is that women are more familiar with their family histories and may just be reporting family history more accurately. Brooks also pointed out that this finding might only apply to Japanese women and not other populations.

It's also not clear exactly why family history is associated with a greater risk for those who never smoked, though Schwartz said it may have something to do with different lung cancer types. It's possible that the type of lung cancer nonsmokers often get may also be one where the genetic susceptibility is passed from generation to generation.

While there aren't clear-cut screening guidelines in place for someone with a family history of lung cancer, Schwartz said, "You need to make your physician aware of your family history; don't discount it."

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