LungBlog

A research team from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has identified a protein produced by cancerous lung epithelial cells that enhances metastasis by stimulating the activity of inflammatory cells. Their findings, to be published in the January 1 issue of the journal Nature, explain how advanced cancer cells usurp components of the host innate immune system to generate an inflammatory microenvironment hospitable for the metastatic spread of lung cancer. The discovery could lead to a therapy to limit metastasis of this most common lethal form of cancer. The scientists – headed by Michael Karin, Ph.D., UC San Diego Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Pathology, who has been investigating the effects of inflammation on cancer development and progression – used a straightforward biochemical approach to identify proteins produced by metastatic cancer cells that are responsible for generation of an inflammatory microenvironment that supports the growth of metastases. Focusing on macrophages, white blood cells that are key players in the immune response to foreign invaders as well as in cancer growth and progression, they screened for factors produced by metastatic cancer cells in mice that could stimulate the activity of this inflammatory cell type.

A research team from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has identified a protein produced by cancerous lung epithelial cells that enhances metastasis by stimulating the activity of inflammatory cells. Their findings, to be published in the January 1 issue of the journal Nature, explain how advanced cancer cells usurp components of the host innate immune system to generate an inflammatory microenvironment hospitable for the metastatic spread of lung cancer. The discovery could lead to a therapy to limit metastasis of this most common lethal form of cancer. The scientists – headed by Michael Karin, Ph.D., UC San Diego Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Pathology, who has been investigating the effects of inflammation on cancer development and progression – used a straightforward biochemical approach to identify proteins produced by metastatic cancer cells that are responsible for generation of an inflammatory microenvironment that supports the growth of metastases. Focusing on macrophages, white blood cells that are key players in the immune response to foreign invaders as well as in cancer growth and progression, they screened for factors produced by metastatic cancer cells in mice that could stimulate the activity of this inflammatory cell type.

Lung cancer cells produce a compound that helps the tumor spread to other parts of the body, a finding that could lead to a new way to prevent this dangerous development, researchers reported on Wednesday.They said a protein called versican hijacks elements of the immune system, generating inflammation that can spur the growth and spread of lung cancer.

Michael Karin of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues made the findings in experiments with mice, but said the protein is found in low levels in some normal human lung cells and other tissues.

Versican is made in large amounts by lung cancer cells, especially in aggressive tumors, they reported in the journal Nature.

Israeli-based MicroRNA company, Rosetta Genomics, has made a giant leap in cancer diagnosis by announcing the commercial availability of its third diagnostic test, miRview (TM) meso.

This breakthrough marks the first molecularly-based test that can accurately diagnose mesothelioma from other types of cancers found in the lung.

MicroRNAs are recently-discovered RNAs that consist of a chain of nucleotide units, each made of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar and a phosphate. Although similar to DNA, RNA is single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded. MicroRNAs provide the ability to treat and diagnose a variety of human illnesses and conditions.

Testing a lung cancer patient’s blood could help doctors predict the likely success of chemotherapy treatment.

UK scientists identified a molecule made by a more aggressive form of the disease, the journal Clinical Cancer Research reported.

Silencing” a single gene in lung cancer disrupts functioning of genome in cancer cases, according to a new study.

Researchers also found a strong link between modification of the key gene, MTHFR, and tobacco use by lung cancer patients – even if the patient had smoked for a short period of time.

Lung cancer is the most fatal cancer and in India bidis contribute to chest tumor, said Dr Manjit Singh Bains, a US- based surgeon, while delivering a talk on necessity of treatment of early stage lung cancer, during the fourth day of 68th annual conference of Association of Surgeons of India. “In the US, lung cancer causes most cancer deaths in a year, but it is now on a decline as the rate of incidence had reduced from 40 per cent of all the cancer cases to 30 per cent,” he said.

A common food additive used to bulk out processed meats could fuel the spread of lung cancer.

Researchers found that high doses of inorganic phosphate salts – used to raise the water content of ham, bacon and chicken – can speed up the growth of tumours.

Susan M. Conrath, PhD, MPH, U.S. Public Health Service issued the following statement December 17, 2008 regarding radon health risk and smoking.

“EPA’s 2003 risk assessment, based on the National Academy of Science’s BEIR VI Report shows a risk of lung cancer deaths to be 6/100 for smokers and 7/1000 for never smokers. Since most federal agencies regulate substances which cause 1 death per million and occasionally 1 death per 100,000, the radon risks are huge.

Cancer will become world’s number one killer by 2010, as the number of people in poorer countries dying from the disease is expected to grow due to smoking, high-fat diets and other factors, the World Health Organization warned at the beginning of this month.

From all cancers, lung cancer appears to be a major reason of concern in the next years, as the number of people smoking is on the rise. It’s true that more people are trying to quit the habit but only few succeed.