
DNA-repair biomarker for lung cancer risk
Until now, most individuals referred to early CT screening for lung cancer have been smokers. Prof. Zvi Livneh and his colleagues are exploring a different approach, examining the efficacy of determining lung cancer risk through an individual’s “DNA repair score”—a summation of the activity of a number of molecular pathways through which cells are known to respond to genetic damage, as revealed in a blood test. Prof. Livneh’s study confirmed that a low DNA repair score indicates a heightened risk for lung cancer, regardless of the case’s disease stage. This may significantly improve current standards for identifying individuals who are candidates for early lung cancer screening.