Cold Spring Harbor, NY – Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)
have discovered three genes that interact with cancerous results in 20% of
non-small cell lung cancer. The three genes are located next to each other on human
chromosome 14 and two are known to play key roles in fetal lung development.
According to CSHL lead investigator David Mu, “lung cancer cells in adults
can reactivate genes that are normally active in the earliest stages of lung
development. We identified the mutation that triggers this abnormal
re-activation of developmental genes and showed that if you turn off these
genes, you stop the cancer.”
The CSHL research found that the three genes termed TTF1, NKX2-8, and PAX9
interact to reactivate what appears to be an early fetal gene expression
pattern that results in cancer tumor growth. “The collaboration of these
genes and the fact that they are so close together on the chromosome may
explain why this mutation is so common in lung cancer,” said CSHL
investigator and co-author Scott Powers. In collaboration with Dr. William
Gerald at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the study finds that
the mutation is more prevalent in late stage lung cancer and is possibly a
risk factor for recurrence.
The CSHL-led research demonstrates that the cancerous results of the
mutation can be reversed. In the future, this may lead to new treatment
options for patients. Cancer research that looks at one gene at a time
ignores the fact that cancers are usually caused by multiple collaborating
cancer genes. Mutations in these genes determine the clinical outcome of the
cancerous growth and how the cancer responds to treatment.
“At CSHL we are excited about the ability to apply direct genomic analysis
to human cancers and discover more about how cancer genes interact,” said
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and CSHL Cancer Center Deputy
Director Scott Lowe.
Oncogenic cooperation and co-amplification of developmental transcription factor genes in lung cancer” was published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The complete citation is as follows: Jude Kendall; Alex Krasnitz; B. Lakshmi; Scott Powers; David Mu; Qing Liu; Amy Bakleh; Ken C. Q. Nguyen Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and William L. Gerald Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.
The research was supported by NCI Cancer Center Funds and the Joan’s Legacy
Foundation.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit research and
education institution dedicated to exploring molecular biology and genetics
in order to advance the understanding and ability to diagnose and treat
cancers, neurological diseases, and other causes of human suffering.
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