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Protein Linked to Increased Lung Cancer Survival
The protein toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has been identified as a possible therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a joint study between several major universities and healthcare research institutions.
The paper, published in the journal Cell Reports, finds that TLR2 is “is active early in lung tumorigenesis, where it correlates with improved survival and clinical regression.” [1] According to researchers, this study could increase the possibility of early detection of NSCLC, which is one of the deadliest cancers.
The discovery of the new target lead also means that there could be new therapies for the disease, based on the idea of activating the TLR2 protein. Fraser Millar, the first author of the paper and Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh called the results “really exciting.”
The University of Edinburgh is one of the research institutions that worked on the project. Collaborating with them are researchers from University College London, University of Cantabria, the Spanish National Research Council, and the Mayo Clinic.
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Lung cancer is one of the most widespread and prolific killers in healthcare, early detection is vital to increasing the chances of surviving the disease. Earlier diagnosis can boost its five-year survival rate from 6% to 50%.
Discovering the link between TLR2 and lung tumorigenesis has had researchers hoping for improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in early-stage NSCLC. The knowledge gained could theoretically be applied to developing a screening programme for the disease, saving many lives.
The results are still yet to be translated from mouse models into humans, but the prospect of activating TLR2 to reduce tumour growth is appealing to clinicians. The target plays a role in senescence, an initial line of defence against cancer which has been suggested to halt the progression of malignancy.
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References
- Millar, F.R. et al. (2022) “Toll-like receptor 2 orchestrates a tumor suppressor response in non-small cell lung cancer,” Cell Reports, 41(6), p. 111596. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111596.
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