Scientist from Cancer Research UK discovered that lung cancer can remain dormant for about 20 years before turning into an aggressive disease. The team studied lung cancer from seven patients - including smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers. They found that after the first few genetic mutations that cause lung cancer, the disease can exist undetected for many years until new faults/mutations trigger the rapid growth of the disease.
 |
| Cancerous mass of cells in the upper right lobe of the lung. |
During the time, when the disease is expanding, different genetic faults appear at different sites of the tumor. And every distinct section of the tumor that is developing, is genetically unique. The wide variety of faults found within the tumor in the lung explain why targeted treatment are not very successful. The biopsy of a lung helps in identifying only one specific gene mutation. So when the attack is done on the mutation it will only affect that particular gene leaving the other sites of the tumor (with different genetic faults) unaffected and developing.
The study also shows the role of smoking towards the development of lung cancer. Many of the early defects are caused by smoking. But as these mutations evolve and develop these become less important. Majority of the mutations are caused by a new process that generates mutations within the tumor, which is controlled by a protein called APOBEC.
Professor Nic Jones, Cancer Research UK’s chief scientist, said: “This fascinating research highlights the need to find better ways to detect lung cancer earlier when it’s still following just one evolutionary path." He added that Cancer Research UK was funding a study called TRACERx based on this work. The new study is studying 100s of lung cancer patients as they evolve over time to eventually find out how they are becoming resistant to treatments.
I think building on this research will help scientists and researchers understand how the mutations of lung cancer develop and track its path down. The next crucial step would definitely be to find the right medications to attack all the various sites of the genetic mutations in the lung cancer tumor.The fact that smoking has a very little impact on the mutations that fully trigger lung cancer was very fascinating. I hope this research reaches its full potential and more lives are saved.
Article: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2014-10-09-researchers-reveal-lung-cancer-can-stay-hidden-for-over-20-years
Related Article: Symptoms of Lung Cancer - http://www.lungcancer.org/find_information/publications/163-lung_cancer_101/266-symptoms
This topic hits me very deeply since my grandfather past away from lung cancer and he was a smoker. I hope the research do indeed do well so a treatment can be develop. Even though you mentioned how smoking has little impact on the mutation, I can't help but wonder if secondhand smoke also contribute, in some small way.
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely frightening to think that lung cancer can remain dormant for up to 20 years. I wonder how many other cancers remain dormant for years before surfacing. Ultimately, being able to detect the dormancy of a cancer would result in a faster response. A faster response could essentially yield a higher survival rate. It is comforting to know that scientists continue to make headway in cancer research.
ReplyDeletehi was just seeing if you minded a comment. i like your website and the thme you picked is super. I will be back. https://www.gpwlaw-mi.com/michigan-lung-cancer-lawyer/
ReplyDelete