DNA structure

Author: Andrew Ciupek, PhD, Associate Director, Clinical Research, GO2 for Lung Cancer 

Although most lung cancer cases happen at an older age and are associated with a history of smoking, a growing number of people are diagnosed who do not have traditional risk factors, including younger people, people without exposure to tobacco products, and others. This suggests that we do not know all the risk factors that can contribute to lung cancer. For instance, we do not yet fully understand if lung cancer risk can run in families (inherited risk).  A better understanding of factors like this can help us identify who is really at risk for lung cancer, which is critical for future screening and prevention research.  

The INHERIT study 

A previous research study by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber), and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), GO2’s medical consortium, showed that certain EGFR mutations run in families, and this was associated with high rates of EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in these families. We don’t know if this kind of inherited risk can occur with other types of lung cancer, but it is important to find the answer so we can identify everyone who may be at risk.   

GO2, ALCMI, and Dana-Farber are partnering on a new landmark study called INHERIT to answer that question. Rather than just focusing on the EGFR mutation, INHERIT will look at multiple mutations to understand if they can be passed on and cause lung cancer risk to run in families. This research will help us better understand who is most at risk and better support future efforts to find lung cancer early and increase survival. 

Who can participate? 

To qualify for the INHERIT study, you must be over the age of 18 AND fit one of the following situations: 

  • Have 2 or more first-degree relatives (which include your mother, father, siblings, and children) with lung cancer
  • Have at least 1 person who has been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2 separate generations of your family
  • Have been diagnosed yourself with both primary lung cancer and a separate, unrelated primary cancer of any type
  • Been told by a doctor that you have an inherited mutation for lung cancer

Learn more about the study and how to enroll here.