Science Sub-Journal: A New Target for Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of
cancer death worldwide.
Despite improvements in screening and treatment techniques, lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage of tumor spread
.
A new study conducted by researchers at Northwestern Medical School in mice demonstrates and describes a new gene
responsible for activating an aggressive subtype of small cell lung cancer.
Their findings could lead to improvements in methods and treatments
.

The new study, titled "POU2AF2/C11orf53 functions as a coactivator of POU2F3 by maintaining chromatin accessibility and enhancer activity," was published in the journal Science Advances
.

"Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for about 13 percent of all lung cancers, typically leads to rapid tumor growth, early metastasis, and acquired treatment resistance," the researchers wrote
.
POU2-like homology protein 3 (POU2F3) is the main regulator of cluster cell recognition and defines SCLC-P subtypes
that lack neuroendocrine markers.
Here, we found a previously undescribed protein C11orf53, which is co-expressed
with POU2F3 in SCLC cell lines and patient samples.
”

Dr.
Lu Wang, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the study, said: "This cancer is resistant to many drugs, and not much research has focused on it
.
" "By identifying this important gene, we now have a very good drug target
.
" When we tell patients that there is no effective treatment for this cancer, it is devastating for patients and their families
.
”

Based on genome-wide CRISPR screening, the genes found are critical
for the growth of this tumor subtype.
When the researchers deleted the gene in vitro and in mouse small cell lung cancer cells, the cancer cells could not survive
.

Researchers are planning to develop a drug to disrupt the function of this gene to treat this subtype of lung cancer
in patients.
"Our ultimate goal is to achieve a more personalized clinical treatment for small cell lung cancer by targeting mechanisms that promote tumor growth by factors that regulate molecular subtypes," Wang explains
.