BACKGROUNDTo study the familial risk factors on lung cancer and the effect of genetic factors on lung cancer.

METHODSWith methods of genetic epidemiology, 370 probands of lung cancer and 370 spouses of the probands (control) were studied.

RESULTSThe risk of the probands' relatives was 1.85 times higher than that of their spouses' relatives (P < 0.01). Compared with the spouses' parents and female relatives, the OR of the probands' parents and female relatives was 2.66 and 2.64 (P < 0.01), respectively. Compard with the female controls' parents, the OR of female probands' parents was 2.27 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe susceptibility of the probands' relatives with lung cancer is higher than that of their spouses' relatives. The genetic factor is one of risk factors on lung cancer.