A study carried out by researchers from the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have discovered 26-new genes that are linked to the development of lung cancer.

Looking at 188-patient donated samples of lung adenocarcinoma, a very common and deadly form of lung cancer, 623-different genes were studied as possible suspects, and then compared to genes in healthy tissue in patients.  The researchers found that a total of 26-genes were linked to this type of lung cancer that affects 40% of the 1-million lung cancer deaths each year.

These new findings can benefit enormously, as genetic testing may help determine which patients might benefit from the drugs currently being used in lung cancer treatments, though many new drugs may result from the findings, as well.