How lung cancer cells disguise themselves to evade chemo
Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates and throughout the world and the United states lung cancer takes the most lives compared to other cancer related deaths. These statistics are mainly due to the fact that lung cancer cells are able to develop resistance to chemotherapy treatment. New research proves that lung cancer cells are able to resist the treatment. The lung cancer cells are able to adopt characteristics of cells from neighboring organs.At Duke University school of medicine, an assistant professor Purushothama Rao Tata, found in a new study that a genetic mutation and mechanism drives that shape shifting process allowing lung cancer cells to shift into having characteristics from other organs in order to resist affects from chemotherapy treatment.
In professor Tata's study they analyzed the genomes of lung cancer tumors, when studying them the team found that many tumors lacked a gene, NKX2-1, that initiated cells to develop into a lung cancer cell. The scientists hypothesized that knocking out the NKX2-1 gene would make lung cancer cells lose their identity and adopt that of neighboring organs.
The results were that when depleting the lung tissue of the NKX2-1 gene it made the tissue change appearance and its behavior. The lung tissue began to resemble gastric tissue and even began to produce digestive enzymes Doing so made the lung tissue change its appearance and, surprisingly, its behavior.
In my opinion I believe that this is a monumental finding. This discovery can now lead to scientists and researchers planning ahead of steps they can take in order to study the paths that the cells take and design therapies to block them. Cancer, especially lung has effected many people, everyone has been affected in some way whether it be close or a friend of a friend. Any development in the discovery of fighting cancer is a victory.
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I agree with your opinion, so many people have around me have been affected with cancer.. hopefully researchers can plan ahead maybe there will be a way for them to design something to block them.
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