New Type of Lung Cancer Found in Young Non-Smokers

It’s a common myth that only smokers or former smokers get lung cancer, but as many as 20% of lung cancer diagnoses are in people who have never smoked.

Smokers and non-smokers tend to develop different types of lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is almost always associated with heavy smoking and in older people, but researchers have identified a new subtype of SCLC affecting young, non-smokers. In the study, the mean age at diagnosis was 53, quite a bit younger than the average age for a lung cancer diagnosis, which is 70. Sixty-five percent of the patients in the study had never smoked.

Non-smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer because of a genetic mutation or abnormality that drives the development of cancer. This new subtype, dubbed “atypical small cell lung carcinoma,” differs in that researchers found a “shattering” of one or more of the chromosomes in patients’ cancer cells – something called chromothripsis.

The atypical form of the disease does tend to be somewhat less aggressive, according to the researchers, which could correlate with the patients being younger and healthier than most people diagnosed with SCLC. The findings also give clues as to what therapies may or may not be effective in treating this type of lung cancer, which could cause a shift in existing treatment patterns moving forward.

For non-smokers, there are typically no early signs or symptoms of lung cancer, which is why it’s often diagnosed at a more advanced stage. It is often found incidentally after having an X-ray or CT scan for another medical reason. It’s important to know if you have a family history of lung cancer, and talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about other risk factors like exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, or other industrial pollutants.