Study examines link between different epigenetic measures of age and lung cancer risk

A new research article has been published in Aging (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by MEDLINE/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 3, titled “Epigenetic age and lung cancer risk in the CLUE II prospective cohort study”.

Epigenetic age, a robust marker of biological aging, has been associated with obesity, low-grade inflammation, and metabolic disease. However, few studies have examined associations between different epigenetic measures of age and lung cancer risk, despite great interest in finding biomarkers to aid in risk stratification for lung cancer screening.

In a recent study, researchers Dominique S. Michaud, Mei Chung, Naisi Zhao, Devin C. Koestler, Jiayun Lu, Elizabeth A. Platz, And Karl T Kelsey from Tufts University, University of Kansas Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Brown University conducted a nested case-control analysis of 208 lung cancer cases and 208 matched controls with pre-diagnostic blood samples (from 1989). The case-control study is nested within the CLUE II Cohort Study, a predominantly white male and female cohort, based in Maryland, USA.

“It is important to examine whether epigenetic age is associated with lung cancer risk in several prospective studies to determine its utility as a potential biomarker to consider for risk stratification in the selection of high-risk individuals. risk for lung cancer screening.”

Prediagnostic blood samples were collected in 1989 (CLUE II landmark study) and stored at −70°C. DNA was extracted from the buffy coat and DNA methylation levels were measured using Illuminant MethylationEPIC BeadChip Arrays. Three epigenetic measures of age acceleration (i.e. biological age is greater than chronological age) (Horvath, Hannum, and PhenoAge) have been examined in relation to lung cancer risk using conditional logistic regression. The researchers did not observe any associations between the three epigenetic measures of aging acceleration and overall lung cancer risk; however, inverse associations for the two measures of Hannum age acceleration (intrinsic and extrinsic) were observed in men and younger participants, but not in women or older participants. In addition, they did not observe any change in the effect over time between blood sampling and diagnosis.

“The results of this study do not support a positive association between three different biological measures of age acceleration and lung cancer risk. Further studies are needed to determine whether epigenetic age is associated with lung cancer. among non-smokers.