Posted by Abby D. Benninghoff, Ph.D. at Dec 12, 2008 06:15 AM | Permalink
BBC's short report puts discovery in perspective but is overly focused on tobacco.
A short article appearing online at the BBC news website describes exciting new research on the genetic basis of lung cancer. Researchers identified a gene called LIMD1 that is key to blocking cancer formation.
The author of this article used informative, simple quotes from scientists familiar with the research to convey to the public how this exciting finding is a "piece of the puzzle," one of many steps in improving early detection methods for lung cancer, or perhaps, developing therapies for the disease.
While brief, this article is right on the money in terms of describing why lung cancer is still an important disease to study: it is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women. Many of these cancer deaths are linked to smoking.
However, the article was too focused on tobacco smoke as a cause of lung cancer. A number of other environmental sources can also trigger lung cancer, including chemicals from diesel exhaust and coal power plant emissions. Radon also is a known risk factor.
Does this gene have a role in all lung cancers, or just those related to tobacco smoke? I think this is a key question that needed to be answered for the public, or at least addressed by the reporter.
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