Urine can predict risk of lung cancer

Urine may be the key to why lung cancer affects some smokers and not others

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Monday, 20, Apr 2009 08:04

Urine may be the key to why lung cancer affects some smokers and not others, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that smokers with high levels of the metabolite NNAL in their urine have double the risk of lung cancer than those with low levels, which they say is a more accurate predictor than a history of smoking.

Detecting the metabolite, a molecule involved in the metabolic process, would enable doctors to predict whether or not a patient is at greater risk of lung cancer.

Data was collected from more than 80,000 men and woman from two separate studies. In addition to personal interviews to assess levels of cigarette smoking, dietary and other lifestyle factors, researchers collected blood and urine samples from more than 50,000 patients.

Researchers then identified 246 current smokers who later developed lung cancer and 245 smokers who did not over a 10-year period.

The study found that compared with patients with low levels of NNAL in their urine, those with a mid-range level of NNAL had a 43 per cent increased risk of lung cancer, while those with the highest level had a more than two-fold increased risk. This was after taking into account the number of cigarettes per day and number of years of smoking.

When combined with levels of nicotine in the urine, those with the highest levels of nicotine and NNAL had an 8.5-fold increased likelihood of lung cancer compared with smokers who had the lowest levels of both.

The results were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting 2009.

Jian-Min Yuan, associate professor of public health at the University of Minnesota and one of the researchers involved with the study, said: "A history of smoking has always been thought of as a predictor of lung cancer, but it is actually not very accurate. Smoking absolutely increases your risk, but why it does so in some people but not others is a big question."