Tumor-Suppressor Genes Found for Lung Cancer

A 10-year research project has culminated in the discovery of three lung-cancer tumor- suppressor genes on chromosome 3 that have dramatically reduced human lung cancer growth in mice. Gene therapy trials with humans are scheduled to begin within a year.

The findings, by researchers from the University of Texas (UT) M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, USA) and the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (USA), was published in the May 1, 2002, issue of Cancer Research.

Working from a set of about 20 genes previously identified as possible tumor- suppressors, researchers focused on a small region of chromosome 3, where they identified eight possible tumor-suppressor genes. Using new adenovirus technology,
the researchers tested their effectiveness and found three genes that not only inhibited tumor growth and metastasis but induced cell death in human lung cancer cells.

"This is the earliest genetic change yet identified in lung cancer, a change that can take place in normal-looking lung tissue,” said Dr. Jack Roth, chairman of the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at M.D. Anderson and co-principal investigator.

The researchers used the 3p genes to treat human lung cancers growing in mice, where the treatment caused a dramatic regression of tumors. They introduced the cancer systemically in the mice and then introduced the gene therapy in the same way. Systemic therapy also demonstrated effectiveness for reducing metastatic tumors. The discovery of the tumor-suppressor genes may lead to earlier detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of lung cancer, say the researchers.




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