A recent study by researchers from the University of Nottingham has identified a gene that protects the body from lung cancer. Lung cancer is a preventable disease and smoking cause up to 85% of lung cancer cases in developed countries. The research have shown that a tumour suppressor gene, LIMD1 is responsible in protecting the body from developing lung cancer, paving the way new medical treatments and screening techniques.
A long term smoker of 25 or more cigarettes has 25 times the chances of developing lung cancer compared to a person who never smokes. Lung cancer is caused by the combination of tar and nicotine in smoke. Tar will coat the lungs and spread throughout the breathing system and engulf the respiratory system whereas nicotine, an addictive drug in cigarette will raise heart pressure and heart rate everything you smoke, straining both the blood vessels and heart, thus magnify the chances of heart attack. There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is strongly linked with smoking and occurs in 15% of all lung cancer cases. The research conducted was a joint effort between University of Nottingham researcher team led by Dr Tyson Sharp and US collaborator Dr Greg Longmore and the research direction focus on the loss of LIMD1 gene in relation to lung cancer.
In the research, the University of Nottingham team examined tissues sample from lung cancer patients and compared them with healthy lung tissue. The absence of LIMD1 gene in most of the lung cancer samples when compared to healthy lung tissue indicate that LIMD1 gene has a critical role in protecting the body against lung cancer. In a separate research conducted by US team, mice were tested and those mice without the presence of LIMD1 gene developed lung cancer, thus supporting finding from Dr Sharp research team.
Dr Sharp mentioned that the LIMD1 gene studied in this research is located on part of chromosome 3, called 3p21. Chromosome 3p21 is often removed very early on in the development of lung cancer by toxic chemicals in cigarettes, implying that the inactivation of LIMD1 gene could be a particular important process in early stages of lung cancer development.
Dr Sharp and his team hope to further understand LIMD1 gene and extend the findings to develop a novel prognostic tool for detection of early stage lung cancer.
This article can be found at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/08
