Methods of identifying individuals at increased risk of lung cancer

Abstract

The invention provides the identification of oncogenic pathways activated in cytologically normal airway cells of individuals having or at risk of having lung disease, as well as specific gene expression patterns (biomarkers) associated with pathway activation. These biomarkers and pathways may provide prognostic and/or diagnostic indicators in lung disease, e.g., lung cancer. Additionally, these pathways and biomarkers may provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of lung disease, as well as markers for the assessment of treatment efficacy.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of identifying an individual at increased risk of lung disease, comprising determining the activation status of the PI3K pathway in a cytologically normal airway epithelial cell from said individual, wherein activation of the PI3K pathway is indicative that said individual is at increased risk of lung disease as compared with an individual in whom the PI3K pathway is not activated.