2023

Nature newly discovered the source of canceration of lung cancer

Scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of Colorado Cancer Center have carried out fine DNA scanning of lung cancer cells and found that NTRK1 and other gene fusion promote the growth of some lung adenocarcinoma. This study shows that drugs targeting NTRK1 protein products may treat lung cancer. Relevant research papers were published in the journal Nature Medicine.
The researchers performed a new generation of DNA sequencing on tumor samples from 36 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. These results show that in the past, we have not found any genetic variation in lung adenocarcinoma patients in cancer cells, and several percent of tumor growth is driven by gene fusion involving NTRK1. NTRK1 gene can encode a protein called TRKA, which is located on the surface of cells and receives growth signals from other cells. When NTRK1 is fused with other genes, TRKA can send out cell growth commands without external signal stimulation.
PasiA of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Dr. J ä nne and Dr. Robert C. Doebel of the University of Colorado Cancer Center are co-authors of this paper. Dr. J ä nne said: "These results show that in the past, we have not found any genetic variation in lung adenocarcinoma patients in cancer cells, and several percent of tumor growth is driven by gene fusion involving NTRK1. Since lung cancer is a common cancer, even a few percent is significant and can be converted into a large number of patients. Our research results show that targeted therapy may be effective for this subgroup of lung cancer patients."
Doebel said: "Although this research work is still in the preclinical stage, it is an important step towards eliminating another lung cancer subtype by taking advantage of the treatment targeting disease-specific genetic weaknesses."