A rare and aggressive type of lung cancer called large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) has a high chance of metastasis. It has no standard treatment and thus, suffer a poor survival rate. A new study has been published in Nature Communications and provides a new understanding of this disease. It aims at finding potential treatment.
The research team has analyzed data from 590 patients across various health systems in the United States and Europe. They examined two types of information: molecular data and clinical outcomes. This helps in better understanding molecular makeup of LCNEC. They found that LCNEC shares features with small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer but there were aspects that did not resemble at all. In this study, they found a protein called FGL1 which plays a role in helping cancer evade the body’s immune system by deactivating immune cells.
The researchers have found that LCNEC tends to have less infiltration of a type of immune cell called T cells. This T cell finding also indicates that LCNEC will not respond to immunotherapy. Also, patients with LCNEC do not respond better when receiving immunotherapy alone or along with chemotherapy. There is no FDA approved treatment for LCNEC.
“Given the rarity of this cancer, we have not understood a lot about it,” said Naqash, a medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Naqash said he hopes the study sets the stage for clinical trials so that a more precise treatment ultimately can be found. The study also emphasizes on the importance of academic research in finding solutions to this rare type of disease.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical needs.
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