Individuals with a specific variant of the TGFbeta1 gene may be more susceptible to getting cancer or other illnesses from exposure to secondhand smoke, researchers say.

The AFP reported Jan. 30 that Garry Cutting of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues studied 800 people exposed to secondhand smoke at home and found that "one gene variation that can weaken lung function as well as shorten the lifespan of those affected by cystic fibrosis and also are exposed to secondhand smoke."

"It's always been suspected that secondhand smoke is detrimental to lung disease patients, and now we have a handle on one specific gene that clearly makes it worse for those with cystic fibrosis," said Cutting, who added, "We're really surprised that such a small genetic change can double the negative effects of secondhand smoke on lung function in these patients."

The report is published in the Jan. 30, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.