Wednesday 10 September 2008

Lung Cancer Risk Models Created For Specific Populations, Prediction Refined

�Lung cancer risk prevision models ar enhanced by taking into account hazard factors by race and by measuring DNA revivify capacity, according to inquiry teams light-emitting diode by epidemiologists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in two complementary papers appearing in the September issue of Cancer Prevention Research.



In the first study to focus on African-Americans, researchers found unique results based on increased exposure to sure risks. Based upon these findings, a specific model was developed to farther refine the predictability of lung cancer in this population, according to lead author Carol Etzel, Ph.D., assistant professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Epidemiology.



"African-Americans cause similar risk factors for lung crab as Caucasians, but the risks tend to be higher, and there is a stronger association with occupational exposures, such as wood sprinkle and asbestos, than we have antecedently observed for whites," said Etzel. "Additionally, we determined the risks associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are substantially higher than those noted in Caucasian subjects." COPDs, such as emphysema, raise a person's risk for lung cancer.



The study focused on those wHO self-reported as being black, and world Health Organization represented or so 14 per centum of the overall survey population. Study participants were recruited from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. The ascendancy population, which was matched on the basis of age, sex activity and ethnicity, was recruited from Houston-area community centers and the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Houston's largest multi-specialty mD group practice. The African-American model was validated on an main sample of African-American lung cancer cases and controls from deuce lung cancer studies organism conducted in metropolitan Detroit.



"The challenge for us is to test to promise which of the United States' estimated 45 trillion current smokers and 46 million sometime smokers ar at highest risk for developing lung cancer. Accurate prediction models may identify subgroups of these smokers who will benefit most from intensive screening programs and behavioural interventions," aforesaid Margaret Spitz, M.D., elderly author and professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Epidemiology.



The previously published Spitz lung cancer risk prediction model was based solely on lung cancer cases and controls among Caucasian subjects. Internal and external validation results showed the prognostic power of the new African-American group-specific model to approach 79 percent, versus 66 percent for the original model.



"The predictive abilities are much improved with the new model and underscore the need for further race-specific modeling," aforesaid Spitz.



Expanding the Original Model




In the second paper, Spitz, the lead author, demonstrates that the predictive capability of her original poser which incorporates clinical and risk factor data, was improved by adding two measures of DNA remediate capacity.



The original Spitz model measured the following smoke intensity variables: Pack-years of smoking for current smokers and the age at which former smokers stopped smoking, physician-diagnosis of hay fever and emphysema, exposure to asbestos and dusts, and family unit history of cancer.



Suboptimal DNA repair capacitance is associated with up to twofold statistically significant increased lung cancer risks. By adding these measures of recompense capacity into expanded onetime smokers and current smokers models' equations, the sensibility of each were statistically significantly bettor than the baseline models. However, the sensitivity of these expanded models remains modest and further purification is plotted by incorporating data on nutrition and common genetic variation into even more sophisticated models.



According to the authors, "While the uniform advice for any tobacco user is quick cessation, reliable prediction models could be helpful in the context of both screening and prevention trials."



The data for both studies were derived from a long-term 17-year study of the epidemiology of lung cancer at M. D. Anderson funded by the National Cancer Institute and led by Spitz. This research was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, and the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute.



Participants of both studies were defined as "never smokers," or those world Health Organization had smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes; "one-time smokers," world Health Organization had non smoked in more than a class; and "current smokers," which included individuals who had quit smoke within the past 12 months. Smokers were as well asked to report their use of mentholated cigarettes, and late smokers the age at which they stopped smoking.



Lung Cancer Facts




Over 85 percentage of all lung cancers occur in current or former smokers. Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer, killing more than 160,000 Americans p.a. and millions worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, the incidence of lung cancer is close to 40 percent higher in African-American men, the death rate approximately 30 percent higher and the five-year endurance rate is 12 percent versus 15 percent for whites.



Spitz added, "The squad is working on a similar simulation targeting the Hispanic population. Our finish is to ultimately develop an synergistic risk assessment tool, a great deal like the Gail breast cancer risk assessment dick, to make lung crab prediction in various populations accessible for treating physicians."





"Development and Validation of a Lung Cancer Risk Prediction Model for African Americans": Co-authors with Etzel and Spitz ar: Sumesh Kachroo, M.S., Mei Liu, M.S., and Anthony D'Amelio, B.S., of M. D. Anderson's Department of Epidemiology; Waun Ki Hong, M.D., of M. D. Anderson's Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Oncology; Anthony J. Greisinger, Ph.D., of Kelsey Research Foundation, Houston; and Michele L. Cote, Ph.D., Ann G. Schwartz, Ph.D., and Angela S. Wenzlaff, M.P.H., all of Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.



"An Expanded Risk Prediction Model of Lung Cancer": Co-authors with Spitz are Carol Etzel, Ph.D., Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., Qingyi Wei, M.D., Ph.D., Christopher I. Amos, Ph.D., and Qiong Dong, M.S., all of M. D. Anderson's Department of Epidemiology; and Waun Ki Hong, M.D. of M. D. Anderson's Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Oncology.



About M. D. Anderson




The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most well-thought-of centers focused on genus Cancer patient fear, research, education and bar. M. D. Anderson is one of only 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For four of the past six years, M. D. Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News and World Report.



Source: Robin Davidson

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center




More info