South Korean scientists have identified an unknown gene fusion process that may cause lung cancer.

A research team led by Professor Seo Jeong-sun from Seoul National University Hospital said on Friday that it has identified a previously unknown gene mutation that causes lung cancer. The finding was discovered when the team analyzed the genome sequencing of a lung cancer patient’s tissues.

The researchers expect the achievement will contribute to the diagnosis of lung cancer and the development of more effective medicine in lung cancer treatment.

The results of the study appeared on the Friday edition of the journal Genome Research.