Mesothelioma Blog

Overwhelmingly, lung cancer is directly linked to cigarette smoking. However, every year a small percentage of people diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers (about 10 to 15 percent of all cases).

Little is known about how or why lung cancer develops in the absence of cigarette smoke, but a new study sheds some new light on the subject. Thanks to the study (headed by the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Cancer Institute), it appears that a small molecule known as miR-21 may be a contributing factor.

The study, which involved examining lung tumors of patients who were non-smokers, found increased levels of miR-21. More over, the molecule, which is a microRNA, was exceptionally elevated in individuals who expressed a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. The EGFR gene mutation is a commonality among many non-smoking lung cancer patients.

Elevated miR-21 molecules were not found to be present, on average, in lung cancer cases related to smoking patients.

Researchers note that they believe miR-21 is not just a biomarker of lung cancer, but rather a contributing factor. Due to this fact, researchers may eventually find effective treatment methods that inhibit the production of miR-21 molecules. Two early experiments – one attempting to disarm miR-21 production and another blocking the EGFR pathways themselves – have both already delivered promising results.

Doctors caution that there is a long way to go before a potential new treatment is available. Still they remain cautiously optimistic about the potential benefits of the new discovery.

Resource:
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200…
 http://health.usnews.com/articles/health…