The role of PM2.5 exposure in lung cancer: mechanisms, genetic factors, and clinical implications

Chi-Yuan Chen; Kuo-Yen Huang; Chin-Chuan Chen; Ya-Hsuan Chang; Hsin-Jung Li; Tong-Hong Wang; Pan-Chyr Yang

doi:10.1038/s44321-024-00175-2

The role of PM2.5 exposure in lung cancer: mechanisms, genetic factors, and clinical implications

EMBO Mol Med. 2024 Nov 22. doi: 10.1038/s44321-024-00175-2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chi-Yuan Chen^#^{1

2}, Kuo-Yen Huang^#^{3

4

5}, Chin-Chuan Chen^{2

6}, Ya-Hsuan Chang^{7

8}, Hsin-Jung Li⁵, Tong-Hong Wang^{9

10

11

12}, Pan-Chyr Yang^{13

14

15}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology and Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² BioBank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Program for Precision Health and Intelligent Medicine, Graduate School of Advanced Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ National Taiwan University YongLin Institute of Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁷ Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
⁸ Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁹ Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology and Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan. cellww@cgmh.org.tw.
¹⁰ BioBank, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. cellww@cgmh.org.tw.
¹¹ Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. cellww@cgmh.org.tw.
¹² Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. cellww@cgmh.org.tw.
¹³ National Taiwan University YongLin Institute of Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. pcyang@ntu.edu.tw.
¹⁴ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. pcyang@ntu.edu.tw.
¹⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. pcyang@ntu.edu.tw.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39578555
DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00175-2

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most critical global health threats, as the second most common cancer and leading cause of cancer deaths globally. While smoking is the primary risk factor, an increasing number of cases occur in nonsmokers, with lung cancer in nonsmokers (LCNS) now recognized as the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Recent evidence identifies air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), as a significant risk factor in LCNS. PM2.5 can increase oxidative stress and inflammation, induce genetic alterations and activation of oncogenes (including the epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR), and contribute to lung cancer progression. This review summarizes the current understanding of how exposure to PM2.5 induces lung carcinogenesis and accelerates lung cancer development. It underscores the importance of prevention and early detection while calling for targeted therapies to combat the detrimental effects of air pollution. An integrated approach that combines research, public health policy, and clinical practice is essential to reduce the lung cancer burden and improve outcomes for those affected by PM2.5 exposurrre.

Keywords: DNA Damage; EGFR; Inflammation; Lung Cancer; PM2.5.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

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