Medical and Environmental Collaboration is a double-strand break
From the Editor
DNA double-strand breaks are a serious type of DNA damage that can contribute to different kinds of lung cancer, such as non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
• Non-small cell lung cancer
Double-strand breaks can cause changes in DNA, known as translocations, which are common in lung cancers. These changes can lead to gene fusions, such as with the tyrosine kinases ALK and ROS1. Mutations in the ATM gene, which helps repair double-strand breaks, are also found in non-small cell lung cancer.
• Small cell lung cancer
In small cell lung cancer, problems like the loss of tumor-suppressing genes RB1 and p53 cause stress during DNA replication. When the RB1 gene is inactivated, cells can keep dividing. A mutation in p53 prevents cells from properly checking for DNA damage before they divide.
Double-strand breaks are among the most serious types of DNA damage. They can cause problems like unstable chromosomes, gene mutations, and can trigger signals that interfere with the DNA repair process. When DNA repair doesn’t work properly, it can lead to mutations across the entire genome, causing cancer and making it harder for treatments to work.
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in rocks and soil breaks down. When radon gas gets into the air and we breathe it in, it can be dangerous because it releases tiny particles called radioactive decay products. These particles can get trapped in our lungs.
Inside our cells, we have DNA, which acts like an instruction manual telling our cells how to grow and function. When radon particles get inside our lungs, they release energy strong enough to damage our DNA. This damage can cause double-strand breaks in the DNA.
A double-strand break means the DNA is literally torn in two places, which is very serious. When this happens, the cell may not be able to fix the DNA properly, which can lead to problems like cells growing uncontrollably, a key factor in the development of cancer.
So, radon gas can cause double-strand breaks in DNA by releasing tiny particles that damage the cells in our lungs, making it one of the reasons radon is harmful to our health.
The connection between environmental factors, such as radon, and medical conditions is important, yet there is often no link between environmental causes of lung cancer and medical diagnoses. This is a serious issue because failing to consider environmental factors in the diagnosis means many patients might not receive the proper care.
There is much discussion about palliative care, which focuses on improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. However, it is impossible to improve a patient's quality of life if their home environment — where they live and are exposed to risks — is not taken into account.
Ignoring environmental causes in clinical trials only creates confusion and makes the pathway to understanding cancer treatment more difficult, which is another form of a "double-strand break."
problems like unstable chromosomes, gene mutations, and can trigger signals that interfere with the DNA repair process. When DNA repair doesn’t work properly, it can lead to mutations across the entire genome, causing cancer and making it harder for treatments to work.
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in rocks and soil breaks down. When radon gas gets into the air and we breathe it in, it can be dangerous because it releases tiny particles called radioactive decay products. These particles can get trapped in our lungs.
Inside our cells, we have DNA, which acts like an instruction manual telling our cells how to grow and function. When radon particles get inside our lungs, they release energy strong enough to damage our DNA. This damage can cause double-strand breaks in the DNA.
A double-strand break means the DNA is literally torn in two places, which is very serious. When this happens, the cell may not be able to fix the DNA properly, which can lead to problems like cells growing uncontrollably, a key factor in the development of cancer.
So, radon gas can cause double-strand breaks in DNA by releasing tiny particles that damage the cells in our lungs, making it one of the reasons radon is harmful to our health.
The connection between environmental factors, such as radon, and medical conditions is important, yet there is often no link between environmental causes of lung cancer and medical diagnoses.
This is a serious issue because failing to consider environmental factors in the diagnosis means
many patients might not receive the proper care.
There is much discussion about palliative care, which focuses on improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. However, it is impossible to improve a patient's quality of life if their home environment — where they live and are exposed to risks — is not taken into account.
Ignoring environmental causes in clinical trials only creates confusion and makes the pathway to understanding cancer treatment more difficult, which is another form of a "double-strand break."
###
9