DNA methylation-based clocks, tobacco smoking, and lung cancer risk.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Biological age, estimated by DNA methylation-based (DNAm) clocks, has been reported to be associated with lung cancer risk. However, the extent to which tobacco smoking behaviours can explain this association and the extent to which DNAm clocks and their components can inform risk assessment for lung cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between DNAm clocks, smoking, and lung cancer risk. METHODS: We analyzed four prospective cohorts (MCCS, Australia, 324 cases/324 controls; NSHDS, Sweden, 190 cases/190 controls; EPIC, Italy, 160 cases/107 controls; and NOWAC, Norway, 115 case/70 controls) with blood samples collected before lung cancer di..