Lung Cancer Risk Factors Pinpointed by Scientists
In a groundbreaking study published last month in the prestigious medical journal Cancer Cell, a team of international researchers, led by Dr. Justin Gainor from Massachusetts General Hospital, have delved into the causes of the recurrence of lung adenocarcinomas in different ethnicities. The study, part of an Academia Sinica-led project in collaboration with the US Cancer Moonshot initiative, aims to shed light on this deadly disease and potentially save lives.
The research, titled "Integrative analysis of lung adenocarcinoma across diverse ethnicities and exposures," used data and samples from 406 lung adenocarcinoma patients across eight countries. The team investigated the roles of both intrinsic and external factors in lung adenocarcinoma, finding significant differences between Westerners and East Asians, particularly when pollutant concentrations were relatively lower.
Intrinsic factors, such as genetic differences and protein expression, were found to play a crucial role in the disease. The researchers identified multiple protein sites highly expressed in specific subtypes and essential for cancer cell survival. Interestingly, they found differences in lung adenocarcinoma progression between men and women, with male patients more often affected by external carcinogens and female patients more likely influenced by intrinsic factors.
External factors, including diet and environmental carcinogens, were also found to significantly impact the disease. The team discovered that Westerners were more susceptible than East Asians to high concentrations of air pollutants, leading to greater invasiveness and growth of specific types of cancer cells.
Taiwanese researchers, led by Academia Sinica's Institute of Chemistry's distinguished research fellow Chen Yu-ju, have identified a high-risk group of patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma who are prone to recurrence and metastasis. The patients were classified into three groups based on proteomics, with the "C2" group showing a high risk of recurrence and metastasis despite early-stage diagnosis. Among the "C2" stage 1 patients, only about half survived after five years.
To address this issue, Chen's team designed a prototype blood test to detect the high-risk, "late-like" subtype of patients, targeting four protein biomarkers with an 85 percent sensitivity rate. Further clinical validation is needed for the blood test, but its potential for early detection and targeted treatment is promising.
The latest findings from this study are significant as they allow for the identification of high-risk, early-recurrent patients, enabling more timely active treatment or closer follow-up. Lung cancer remained Taiwan's deadliest type of cancer last year, claiming 10,495 lives. With continued research and advancements in early detection and treatment, the hope is that this number will decrease in the future.
