Beyond smoking: Investigating risk factors for lung cancer in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project

Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Lung cancer places an especially large burden on Canadians as it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Prevention can lower the number of new cases of lung cancer but there are few known risk factors for lung cancer beyond smoking. Finding new risk factors for lung cancer is important since not all people who smoke develop lung cancer and up to one in four lung cancers occur in people who have never smoked, suggesting other factors must play a role. There is some evidence that lifestyle, other diseases and medications may play a role in lung cancer development but more research is needed. This study will use already collected data from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project; a group of over 300,000 Canadians from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada to identify lifestyle and medical factors that may increase the risk that a person will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Information on risk factors were collected from physical measurements, and questionnaires, including lifestyle (diet, body size, sleep, physical activity), and medical history (diseases, medication use). Development of lung cancer was determined over up to 9 years, during which time more than 1,000 lung cancers were diagnosed. People who were diagnosed with lung cancer will be matched with people of the same age, sex, and smoking history for comparison. People who have never smoked, currently smoke or used to smoke will be studied separately to determine if risk factors differ. This study will provide important information on potential targets for lifestyle changes and strategies to prevent lung cancer with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of the many Canadians affected by this deadly disease.