Study targets ‘cancer gene’

A genetic mutation found to be quite prevalent among lung cancer patients in Ireland could be successfully targeted with new therapies, it has emerged.

Research funded by the Irish Cancer Society explored the incidences of certain genetic mutations in lung cancer patients.

It identified a gene called PIK3CA that appears to be quite high among the Irish population, compared with international rates.

Non-small-cell lung cancer accounts for 80% of lung cancers and, despite advances in anti-cancer therapies, the overall survival rate is small.

Trinity College Dublin researcher, Dr Susan Heavey, has been investigating a gene pathway called PI3K that is known to play a key role in the control of cell growth.

She discovered that heightened activity of the pathway is associated with a more aggressive disease and poorer outcome for patients.

The research identified that a targeted drug called DHMEQ was highly effective at reducing the growth of chemotherapy-resistant lung cancer cells.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has provided funding for her finding to be investigated further.

The gene mutations were initially investigated in 137 patient samples from St Jame’s Hospital biobank and this has now been expanded to 1,000 patients’ samples.

The extended study will give a more accurate estimate of the rate of the gene mutation in Irish lung cancer patients.

Dr Heavey said lung cancer had overtaken breast cancer as the biggest cause of cancer death in women in Ireland. It also had the highest mortality rate of all cancers.

“It is therefore vital that we investigate strategies for fighting this disease, such as PI3K-targeted drugs.”

There have been no clinical trials in Ireland for PI3K pathway-targeted drugs in lung cancer but Dr Heavey believes the data generated during her project supported the new treatment approach.

During the study another tumour-promoting gene that was highly active in lung cancer and resistant to PI3K pathway target drugs was also identified and is to be followed up.

Dr Heavey believes the gene could be successfully targeted by drugs currently in pre-clinical development, opening up the possibility of a viable strategy for treating patients who have become resistant to PI3K-targeted drugs in the future.

Meanwhile, the Irish Cancer Socety has launched its Daffodil Centre at University Hospital Limerick with the help of hurling pundit Ger Loughnane. The service is open to people affected by or concerned about cancer and no referral or appointment is necessary.

www.cancer.ie .