Researchers have identified how malignant tumors develop in lung cancer. They hope to be able to develop new treatments.
Understanding cancer better in order to treat it better: this is the objective of many researchers. In the United States, a team sheds new light on lung cancer. According to their results published in eLifetwo coordinated genetic mutations would cause the development of malignant tumors.
Three molecules involved
Lung cancer can take different forms, the main one being lung adenocarcinoma. In 75% of cases, the tumor is due to mutations affecting two mechanisms necessary for cell growth: those concerning the PI3-kinase protein and the MAP kinase pathway. Through testing on genetically modified mice, the researchers discovered that the two coordinated genetic mutations are the cause of the tumor growth. “The two mutations cooperate to encourage the growth of malignant tumors,” explains Ed Van Veen, director of the research. They also discovered that a third molecule played a role in tumor development: PGC1?. The latter is at the origin of the coordination of the two proteins, and it modifies the lung cells in order to make them lose their characteristics, which contributes to the progression of the tumour.
Hope for new treatments
With these results, the team wants to develop new drugs against lung cancer. “As MAP-kinase and PI3-kinase are both already targeted by therapies currently being tested, specifies Martin McMahon, co-author, this study could influence the use of new drugs in clinical studies.” Nearly 45,000 new cases are detected in France each year. In 2018, more than 33,000 people died from it.
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