Is family history under-recognised in lung cancer?
Family history in lung cancer needs closer attention.
A new multicentre study published on 26 February 2026 in Lung Cancer has looked at family history in people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Family history is not always explored in depth in lung cancer care. The focus is often on smoking history and environmental risk factors. This study suggests there may be more to consider.
What did the study examine?
Researchers developed a structured way of assessing family history across first-, second- and third-degree relatives.
They created a weighted score that takes into account:
The number of relatives affected
The type of cancers diagnosed
The age at diagnosis
The degree of relatedness
This approach was designed to identify people whose family history may suggest an increased inherited cancer risk.
What were the findings?
Among 336 people with NSCLC:
Around 16% were identified as having enriched familial cancer patterns
These individuals were considered appropriate for referral to genetic counselling and planned germline testing
Importantly, this does not mean lung cancer is usually hereditary. Most lung cancers are not inherited.
However, the findings suggest that inherited risk may be under-recognised in a subset of people.
Why does this matter?
Understanding whether a cancer risk may be inherited can help:
Guide referral for genetic counselling
Inform decisions about germline testing
Provide clearer information for families
Improve personalised care
Family history can reflect shared genes, shared environment, or both. This study does not prove inheritance. Instead, it highlights the importance of asking more detailed questions and using structured tools to guide clinical decisions.
As precision medicine evolves, attention to inherited risk may need to sit alongside tumour profiling and biomarker testing.
What should people do if they’re worried?
If you are concerned about your family history of cancer, speak with your clinical team. Genetic counselling is designed to provide information and clarity. It does not assume that cancer is inherited, but helps assess whether further testing may be useful.
Source
Citarella F et al.
Family history enrichment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A cross-sectional–prospective study to inform referral for germline testing.
Lung Cancer. 26 February 2026.
Open access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2026.109346