Scientists make critical breakthrough in lung cancer treatment

[Jan. 16, 2023: Sam Jeremic, Edith Cowan University]

Treatment for lung cancer has improved in recent years — and a new Edith Cowan University study has found how to make it even more effective. (CREDIT: Creative Commons)

Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, accounting for an estimated 1.8 million deaths worldwide.

Treatment for the condition has improved in recent years — and a new Edith Cowan University study has found how to make it even more effective.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a major weapon in the battle against non-small cell lung cancer, which makes up 80-85 per cent of all lung cancer diagnoses.

Unfortunately, immunotherapy can also result in severe side effects for patients: at least 74 per cent of those treated will experience immune-related adverse reactions.

Up to 21 per cent will develop grade three or four toxicity, which can lead to lifelong complications affecting the skin, gut, liver or endocrine system.

These adverse reactions can result in cancer treatment having to be discontinued, which risks allowing the disease to progress further.

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But, somewhat contradictorily, people who experience these immunotherapy side effects tend to have more positive results with their cancer progression than those who don’t.

Study supervisor Associate Professor Elin Gray, from ECU’s Centre for Precision Health, described immunotherapy is something of a “double-edged sword” — but researchers have made a critical breakthrough.

“Immunotherapies unleash the immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells,” she said.

“But they can also unleash the immune cells to attack the body, causing toxicities.

“Our research shows for the first time that certain genetic features predispose cancer patients to develop side effects or toxicities to anti-cancer therapy.”

Associate Professor Elin Gray. (Credit: Edith Cowan University)

“Knowing this will allow doctors to improve the treatment given to patients."

‘HLA’ discovery benefits all

The key to the research are human leukocyte antigens, or HLAs, which are markers found in most cells in the body.

Dr Afaf Abed. (Credit: Edith Cowan University)

The immune system uses HLAs to determine which cells do and don’t belong in your body and are part of the alarm system which detects viruses, infections – and cancer.

The research team examined the HLAs of 179 non-small cell lung cancer patients and found a strong link between the genetic makeup of the HLAs and whether the person was likely to develop side effects from immunotherapy.

Study lead Dr Afaf Abed said this discovery would benefit all non-small cell lung cancer patients, regardless of whether they were genetically predisposed to adverse reactions to immunotherapy or not.

“If someone is found to not be at risk of side effects, doctors can ramp up the treatment and be more aggressive in fighting the disease,” she said.

“If they are found to be at a higher risk, doctors can take it easier with the treatment, monitor it and intervene before patients develop grade 3 or 4 toxicity.

“Either way, biomarkers that predict the risk of these immune-mediated adverse events among patients may reduce the risks associated with these treatments.”

‘HLA genotype association with the development of immune related adverse events (irAE) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with single agent immunotherapy’ was published in the European Journal of Cancer.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

According to the CDC, different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people have symptoms related to the lungs. Some people whose lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) have symptoms specific to that part of the body.

Some people just have general symptoms of not feeling well. Most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced. Lung cancer symptoms may include:

Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away.
Chest pain.
Shortness of breath.
Wheezing.
Coughing up blood.
Feeling very tired all the time.
Weight loss with no known cause.
Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest in the area between the lungs.

These symptoms can happen with other illnesses, too. If you have some of these symptoms, talk to your doctor, who can help find the cause.

For more science news stories check out our New Discoveries section at The Brighter Side of News.

Note: Materials provided above by Edith Cowan University. Content may be edited for style and length.

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