Rare EGFR T790M mutation raises lung cancer risk 62-fold in nonsmokers

September 17, 2026 at 11:27 PM1 min

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Scientists have identified an inherited EGFR T790M mutation that raises lung cancer risk 62-fold in people who have never smoked. The study, published Sept. 17 in Science, analyzed genetic data from over 3.3 million people of European ancestry. The mutation's effect far exceeds the fourfold risk increase associated with smoking in the same cohort.

Key Facts

The EGFR T790M mutation was associated with a 62-fold higher lung cancer risk among never-smokers.
The study analyzed genetic data from more than 3.3 million people of European ancestry.
Smoking was associated with a roughly fourfold increase in lung cancer risk in the same study.
The findings were published in the journal Science on Sept. 17.

Study Design

Researchers examined the inherited EGFR T790M variant, which is linked to lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. The analysis included genetic data from more than 3.3 million individuals of European descent. The study was published in Science on Sept. 17.

Risk Magnitude

Never-smokers carrying the EGFR T790M mutation were 62 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers without the mutation. Overall, carriers of the mutation had about a 25-fold higher risk of lung cancer compared with non-carriers. For comparison, smoking was associated with a roughly fourfold increase in lung cancer risk in the study.

Clinical Implications

The authors note that the mutation alone rarely leads to tumor development, but in combination with other EGFR gene changes it may contribute to cancer onset. Most lung cancer cases remain linked to smoking, but identifying inherited factors could improve risk assessment for never-smokers.