The Silent Gene: A Rare Mutation Drives Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

A newly identified rare genetic mutation, EGFR T790M, dramatically increases lung cancer risk—62-fold for people who never smoked, according to a landmark study in Science. This inherited variant, far more common in Southern Appalachia, is a major step toward explaining why 10-20% of U.S. lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers.

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For decades, the link between smoking and lung cancer was clear, but the rising tide of cases in non-smokers puzzled researchers. This...