Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Canada and worldwide. Outdoor air pollution has been associated with increased lung cancer risk, but how it directly affects the genes and other molecular features in the lung are currently unknown. PM2.5, defined as fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres, is considered the most dangerous part of air pollution because it can reach the deepest parts of the lung that are critical for breathing. This study explores the molecular traits of lung cancer tissue from patients who have never smoked with varying levels of past PM2.5 exposure. Lung cancer tissue was collected from 116 patients who received lung surgery as part of their cancer treatment at Vancouver General Hospital or Surrey Memorial Hospital. These patients also completed a survey on where they previously lived, which was combined with satellite data to estimate each of their PM2.5 exposures going back up to 50 years. By using techniques that read the genes and chemical tags that can affect gene activity, we compared the lung tumours between patients who lived in areas of high versus low areas of PM2.5. We discovered genes that were altered only in patients with high PM2.5. Overall, our findings suggest that PM2.5 may influence lung cancer biology, which could help improve early detection and development of new treatments.