Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42152146›Full record

SynthesisGenome medicine2026

Genome-wide meta-analysis across East Asian and European populations provides insights into the molecular basis of lung cancer.

Meng Zhu, Caochen Zhang, Yuting Han, Chen Jin, Sunan Miao, Jing Zhang, Linnan Gong, Yuanlin Mou, Chen Ji, Yating Fu and 19 more

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Genome medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

29 authors.

Meng Zhu *Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Caochen Zhang *Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yuting Han *Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Chen Jin *Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Sunan MiaoDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Jing ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Linnan GongDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yuanlin MouDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Chen JiDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yating FuDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Erbao ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Canqing YuDepartment of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Dianjianyi SunDepartment of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Yue JiangDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Jiaping ChenDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Ling YangMedical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Yiping ChenMedical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Huaidong DuMedical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Robin WaltersMedical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Iona MillwoodMedical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Juncheng DaiDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zhengming ChenNuffield Department of Population Health, Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Zhibin HuDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Jun LvDepartment of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Guangfu JinDepartment of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Christopher I AmosInstitute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Hongbing Shen *Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. hbshen@njmu.edu.cn.
Liming Li *Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. lmlee@vip.163.com.
Hongxia Ma *Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. hongxiama@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China 2024ZD0520000Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China 2024ZD0520003National Natural Science Foundation of China 81973123National Natural Science Foundation of China 82388102National Natural Science Foundation of China 82473708Research Unit of Prospective Cohort of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences 2019RU038The Excellent Youth Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20220100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe genetic architecture of lung cancer (LC) varies substantially across populations. However, the limited ancestral diversity of existing discovery cohorts hampers comprehensive characterization of ancestry-specific risk mechanisms and limits the transferability of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) across populations. In addition, the interplay between germline variants and somatic mutations in LC remains poorly characterized.

methodsWe performed a cross-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWMA) studies comprising 53,650 LC cases and 486,210 controls of East Asian (EAS) and European (EUR) ancestry. PRSs of cross-ancestry were developed and validated in the UK Biobank (UKB) and China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). Fine-mapping and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) colocalization were conducted to prioritize candidate susceptibility genes. Gene-set based PRSs were calculated based on pathway enrichment analyses, telomere and smoking-related GWASs and supporting literature, and their association with somatic mutations and prognostic metrics were studied. Functional validation of novel locus was performed to elucidate the mechanisms of LC.

resultsCross-ancestry GWMA identified 36 independent variants across 30 loci, including one novel locus, and revealed remarkable differences in genetic correlations with smoking behaviors between East Asians and Europeans. PRS-CSx derived from the meta-analysis outperformed previous models in both the two biobanks (UKB: HR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.23-1.31; CKB: HR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.19-1.34). Susceptibility genes were grouped into four pathways: telomere maintenance, smoking behavior, epithelial cell biology, and DNA damage response. Corresponding gene-set-based PRSs were significantly associated with tumor mutation burden, mutational signatures, key driver mutations, and patient survival. Finally, functional assays further demonstrated that two variants at the novel locus at 16q23.3 regulate MPHOSPH6 expression and protein function, influencing telomere length and LC risk.

conclusionsOur study systematically elucidates the shared and distinct genetic architectures of LC between EAS and EUR populations, introduces PRS-CSx for effective LC risk stratification underscoring its clinical implications across diverse ancestries. Additionally, we uncover a novel mechanism by which functional genetic variants located in MPHOSPH6 contribute to LC susceptibility, and provide comprehensive insights into the interplay between germline and somatic mutations in LC.

Indexed as

East Asian PeopleEuropean PeopleGenome-Wide Association StudyLung NeoplasmsGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenetic Risk ScoreHumansPolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociWhite PeopleCross-ancestryGenetic susceptibilityLung cancerPolygenic risk scoreSomatic mutations

Identifiers

PMID42152146
PMCPMC13348699

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.