# Rare genetic mutation linked to lung cancer risk in non-smokers

> A rare genetic mutation may increase lung cancer risk 62 times for non-smokers.
- Title: Rare genetic mutation linked to lung cancer risk in…
- Summary: A rare genetic mutation may increase lung cancer risk 62 times for non-smokers. Carriers of the EGFR T790M mutation face 62 times higher lung cancer risk…
- Keywords: egfr t790m, lung cancer, non-smokers, genetic mutation, science, cancer risk, genetic testing, Rare, genetic, mutation, linked, lung
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/genetic-mutation-linked-to-dramatic-lung-cancer-risk-in-non-smokers-12459558
- Published: 2026-09-18T15:45:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: egfr t790m, lung cancer, non-smokers, genetic mutation, science, cancer risk, genetic testing
## New study reveals genetic risk
A new study shows people with the rare EGFR T790M mutation may have 62 times higher lung cancer risk than non-smokers.

> We tend to think of lung cancer risk primarily in terms of smoking and environmental exposures, but this study shows that, in some people, inherited genetics can also play a powerful role.
## Risk increases for non-smokers
Carriers of the mutation face 60-fold higher lung cancer risk among non-smokers compared to those without the mutation.

> We found that people who carry the inherited EGFR T790M mutation had approximately 25-fold higher odds of developing lung cancer than people without the mutation.
## Mutation prevalence in US
The mutation is present in about 1 in 15,850 participants in the US, with higher rates among British and Irish descendants.

> It is significantly enriched in the United States, with a carrier frequency of 1 in 8,920 in those descended from British and Irish populations
## Historical origin
The mutation likely originated in Europe and spread to the Southern Appalachian region via British and Irish settlers 200 years ago.

> This suggests that the mutation arose in Europe and was brought to the Southern Appalachian region by British and Irish settlers during the colonial era.
## Future research goals
Researchers aim to understand how age affects lung cancer risk for carriers and why some develop cancer while others do not.

> We now want to understand, for people who have this mutation, how their lung cancer risk changes with age, what their lifetime risk is, and why some carriers develop lung cancer while others do not
## Clinical implications
Genetic testing could help identify high-risk individuals for targeted lung cancer screening.

> Ultimately, our goal is to use this information to help guide CT screening so that we can identify people at risk.
## Key takeaway

Carriers of the EGFR T790M mutation face 62 times higher lung cancer risk than non-smokers.