Breakthrough by OSU Researchers Identifies Molecule That May Contribute to the Development of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

Researchers at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute have identified a molecule called miR-21 that may play an early and important role in the development of lung cancer particularly in never-smokers.   Researchers examined lung tumors from people who had never smoked and found high levels of the molecule especially in tumors that had mutations in a gene called EGFR. 

“Several important lung cancer drugs target EGFR mutations, but these agents are ineffective in about 30 percent of cases in which the mutation is present,” says co-principal investigator Dr. Carlo M. Croce, professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. “Our study suggests that developing agents to inhibit miR-21 might improve these anti-EGFR therapies.”

The findings, published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may lead to improved therapy for lung cancer in both never smokers and smokers.

For details, see the release from the OSU Medical Center.