Despite many advancements in lung cancer therapies, this disease remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and around the world. Ohio University researchers have discovered a new way to fight lung cancer. The study was led by Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished professor, John J. Kopchik and his graduate student Arshad Ahmad at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. They found that blocking the growth Hormone Receptor may help in making lung cancer treatments more effective.
Understanding the Role of Growth Hormone in NSCLC
The team studied the role of Growth Hormone (GH) in NSCLC. The growth Hormone works by binding to a protein in cells called growth Hormone Receptor (GHR). The researchers have analysed tumor samples of NSCLC patients and found that lung tumors had much higher levels of GHR in comparison to normal lung tissue. They also found that patients with low GHR tumors survived for about 66 months in comparison to 36-40 months survival for those with high GHR.
How GH Affects Chemotherapy Resistance
In this study, the team used human and mouse lung cancer cells and found that GH made cancer cells were more resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Also, GH increased the activity of special proteins which push chemotherapy drugs out of cancer cells, thus nullifying their role. All-in-all, they made it difficult and harder to kill cancer cells. Then the researchers tested Pegvisomant and it reversed many of the harmful effects caused by GH. Pegvisomant is responsible for blocking the growth Hormone Receptor and is sold under the brand name, Somavert.
Expert Insight on the Findings
“These findings suggest that growth hormone signaling helps drive aggressive and therapy-resistant lung cancer,” said Kopchick. “By blocking the growth hormone receptor, we may be able to improve the effectiveness of existing treatments.”
Study Limitations and Next Steps
The limitations of the study was that it was performed using patient dataset analysis and laboratory cell models. Now team will test lung cancer cells in mice in subsequent clinical trials.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. You should always consult with your healthcare professional for any medical needs.
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