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Research Institutions: University of Delhi South Campus, Tata Memorial Centre (Mumbai), One Cell Diagnostics (Pune)
Background
- Lung adenocarcinoma: Most common type of lung cancer, affecting even non-smokers.
- Current treatment: Targeted drugs known as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used for patients with mutations in the EGFR gene.
- Challenge: Many patients eventually relapse due to therapy resistance.
Key Findings
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Scope | Analyzed data from 483 lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations. |
| Discovery | Presence of mutations in certain tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) along with EGFR mutation increases risk of early relapse. |
| Survival Impact | – Patients with TSG mutations had an average survival of 51.11 months compared to 99.3 months for others. – Progression-free survival was also significantly shorter. |
| Identified Genes | A group of 17 tumor suppressor genes found to contribute to therapy resistance and early relapse. |
Methodology
| Process | Details |
|---|---|
| Genetic Sequencing | Performed on tumor samples from 16 patients before and after relapse to understand genetic evolution. |
| Liquid Biopsy | – Blood-based testing used to detect cancer DNA fragments. – 200 blood samples from 25 patients tracked over time using technology from One Cell Diagnostics. |
| Evolution Tracking | Found that mutations in the 17 TSGs were present at early stages and became dominant as treatment progressed. |
Implications of the Study
- Personalized Treatment
- Early detection of TSG mutations can help doctors tailor therapies to account for potential resistance.
- May delay or prevent early relapse.
- Clinical Application:
- Patients identified as high-risk could receive alternative or more aggressive therapy strategies.
Contributors and Support
India
- Lung cancer in India (2022):
- 81,748 new cases
- 75,031 deaths (WHO data)
This study provides a critical genetic insight into why certain lung cancer patients relapse early. Early genetic profiling can potentially revolutionize treatment protocols and outcomes for lung adenocarcinoma patients.
Source: The Indian Express
