Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Lung cancer causes
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The direct cause of lung cancer is DNA mutations that often result in either activation of proto-oncogenes (e.g. K-RAS) or the inactivation of tumors suppressor genes (e.g. TP53) or both. The risk of these genetic mutations may be increased following exposure to environmental insults.
Causes
Causes
- The direct cause of lung cancer is DNA mutations that often result in either activation of proto-oncogenes (e.g. K-RAS) or the inactivation of tumors suppressor genes (e.g. TP53) or both.[1][2]
- The risk of these genetic mutations may be increased following exposure to environmental insults, which are regarded as risk factors that predispose to the development of lung cancer.
- To view a comprehensive list of risk factors that increase the risk of lung cancer, click here.
References
References
- ↑ American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2017. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2017.
- ↑ Karachaliou N, Mayo C, Costa C, Magrà I, Gimenez-Capitan A, Molina-Vila MA, Rosell R (2013). “KRAS mutations in lung cancer”. Clin Lung Cancer. 14 (3): 205–14. doi:10.1016/j.cllc.2012.09.007. PMID 23122493.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kim-Son H. Nguyen M.D. Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2] Dildar Hussain, MBBS [3]