Hidden Gene Significantly Elevates Lung-Cancer Risk for Never-Smokers in Appalachia
A rare inherited mutation called EGFR T790M is now linked to a dramatically higher lung-cancer risk, especially among people who never smoked and are from Southern Appalachia (notably Tennessee and Alabama). The gene makes lung cancer roughly 62-fold more likely in never-smokers and about 10-fold more likely in smokers, ranking among the strongest cancer-risk mutations identified. Researchers trace the mutation to ancestors from the British Isles who settled in Appalachia 200–225 years ago, highlighting a regional genetic factor in cancer risk and the potential need for targeted screening.