Press Release

DNAPLUS, a leader in precision genomics, proudly participated in the 9th European Conference on Tobacco Control (ECTC) held in Athens, Greece, from October 22 to 24, 2024. The conference, co-organized by the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP), the European Respiratory Society's Tobacco Control Committee, and esteemed Greek partners, drew experts worldwide to advance innovative solutions for tobacco control and smoking-related disease prevention.

At this significant event, DNAPLUS's collaborator, Dr. George Busby, presented pioneering research developed jointly with Allelica, focused on advancing lung cancer prevention through personalized risk assessment. The research, titled "Predicting Absolute Risk of Lung Cancer Using Clinical Risk Factors and Polygenic Risk Scores," introduces a novel model that combines genetic data with established clinical risk factors to improve the precision of lung cancer risk prediction in smokers.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths globally, with an estimated 80% of cases linked to preventable risk factors. Despite tobacco use being the most influential factor, the variability in lung cancer risk within current and former smokers remains significant. Recognizing this gap, DNAPLUS and Allelica's model integrates polygenic risk scores (PRS) with other critical risk variables such as age, sex, BMI, smoking history, alcohol consumption, lung disease history, and family history of cancer, creating a robust prediction tool.

Dr. Busby's presentation highlighted the model's ability to classify current and former smokers into high- and low-risk categories with remarkable accuracy. Results showed that current smokers with higher PRS values have up to four times the lung cancer risk compared to those with the lowest genetic risk. Furthermore, this model stratifies former smokers, distinguishing individuals above or below a critical 2% five-year risk threshold for targeted interventions.

"Our integrated approach to lung cancer risk prediction has the potential to reshape early intervention strategies by identifying individuals at significantly higher risk, ultimately improving outcomes through timely and targeted preventive measures," commented Dr. Busby.

The DNAPLUS and Allelica collaboration exemplifies the role of genomics in public health, offering practical applications to support national health systems in their efforts to reduce lung cancer mortality. By providing a more calibrated and accurate assessment tool, the PRS-integrated model underscores DNAPLUS's commitment to harnessing genetic insights to inform disease prevention and empower individuals with actionable health information.

About DNAPLUS
DNAPLUS is a forefront innovator in clinical genomics, specializing in personalized risk assessment tools that empower patients and healthcare providers through precision diagnostics. In partnership with leading genetic technology firms, DNAPLUS continually advances healthcare by translating complex genetic insights into accessible, actionable health solutions.