Lung cancer in Veterans is related to inhalation of carcinogenic chemicals. Deployed Veterans were exposed to fumes from burning oil wells, burn pits, lung irritants, and chemical toxins. Altered expression of genes and proteins may also contribute to this cancer progression. The human DJ-1 is located on the distal part of the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p36.12–1p36.33), where many chromosome aberrations in cancers have been reported. DJ-1is a secreted multifunctional protein. Its high expression may promote cell survival and therefore contribute to poor prognosis in this disease. Cysteine at position 106 (Cys-106) is a sensor of oxidative stress, the most reactive and functionally important residue within DJ-1. However, oxidation status of
