Why doesn’t every cigarette smoker get cancer? Major reason revealed in Cambridge University’s research

New Delhi: Smoking is considered the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, but not every smoker gets cancer. On the other hand, some people also fall prey to this disease who have never smoked cigarettes. Now new research by scientists of Cambridge University has given important information on this question.

According to a study published in the prestigious scientific journal ‘Nature’, a person’s genetic makeup plays an important role in determining how the body will respond to DNA damage caused by smoking, exposure to sunlight or other harmful elements.

Cancer risk is affected by genetics

According to researchers, despite similar risks, not every person has the same chance of developing cancer. This is because each person has a different genetic makeup, which affects changes in DNA and the body’s repair process.

The senior author of the study said that cancer is not just the result of chance. The process of tumor formation in different people is largely influenced by their genetic characteristics.

Controlled study done on rats

During this research, scientists kept mice with different genetic characteristics in a controlled environment. All were given equal doses of the cancer-causing chemical diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at the same age.

After this, the genomes of about 600 tumors were analyzed. Investigation found that the process of cancer formation was not the same in all rats. Due to different genetic makeup, changes in DNA and the way tumors develop also differed.

Precision medicine may get a new direction

Scientists believe that this discovery will help in future Precision medicine will be promoted. This means that in future, a patient’s treatment and cancer risk can be assessed more accurately based on his genetic profile.

Not only the smoking history but also the genetic background of the person will play an important role in assessing the risk of cancer.

Smoking is still the biggest danger

Experts have clarified that this research does not mean that smoking is safe. Tobacco is still considered the biggest and preventable cause of lung cancer. Genetic factors may reduce the risk in some people, but this does not completely eliminate the harm caused by smoking.

Also read: Explainer: What is the new Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026? How different from the old law, now the future of students will be at stake.