Why smoking raises lung cancer risk differently across racial and ethnic groups
Official title: Mechanisms of Ethnic/Racial Differences in Lung Cancer Due to Cigarette Smoking
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11180249 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for genetic, biochemical, and epigenetic reasons why cigarette smoking leads to different lung cancer risks in people from several racial and ethnic groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2009 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,204,432 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA138338-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180249 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 or older who are current or former cigarette smokers, especially those identifying as African American, Native Hawaiian, White, Latino, or Japanese American, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who have never smoked or whose lung cancer is caused by factors unrelated to tobacco exposure may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team compares genes, chemical damage, and epigenetic marks in smokers and former smokers from five racial/ethnic groups to understand why cancer risk differs. They measure tobacco-related chemicals and DNA damage using biomarkers (for example in blood and urine) and analyze genetic differences such as CYP2A6 that affect nicotine metabolism. One project focuses on finding persistent risk markers in former smokers, while others study how specific tobacco carcinogens and epigenetic changes contribute to risk across groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify people at higher or lower risk and lead to better, more personalized screening, prevention, and quitting strategies for different communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work, including studies by this research team, has identified tobacco-related biomarkers and genetic links to lung cancer risk, but applying and validating these findings across diverse ethnic groups is still being developed.
Where this research is happening
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hecht, Stephen S — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Hecht, Stephen S
Related research
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A practical approach tests whether giving people who aren’t ready to quit access to harm-reduction smoking aids can help them move toward quitting.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.