By creating high-resolution cellular and molecular visual maps of lung cancer before and during its development, researchers were able to track disease progression in its early stages and understand the molecular dynamics of cancer progenitor cells.
Dr. Humam Kadara, Professor of Translational Molecular Pathology, explained: "We found that the early cells responsible for lung cancer are located in areas of severe inflammation, surrounded by pro-inflammatory cells. Targeting inflammation by neutralizing a pro-inflammatory agent called IL-1B reduces these cancer precursor cells. Our work paves the way for new strategies to intercept the early stages of the disease and improve patients' lives."
Spatial analysis maps of gene expression provide a visual representation of where and how genes are expressed within samples. Characterizing cells and genes in precursor lesions—tissue changes that may develop into cancer—allows for the identification of potential targets for early intervention.
The researchers created spatial analysis maps of gene transcription for 56 human progenitor lesions and advanced lung cancer samples from 25 patients, and the results were validated using an independent set of 36 lesions from 19 patients, including 486,519 spots and 5.4 million cells for analysis.
The study showed that areas of inflammation in precursor lesions contain tumor-associated alveolar cells, which are more active and widespread in the early stages of cancer development. These inflammatory areas were also observed in laboratory models, suggesting that inflammation in these areas may be a direct factor in tumor development.
The results suggest that targeting inflammation, either alone or in combination with immunotherapy, may represent a promising strategy for intercepting lung cancer in its early stages and improving patients' chances of survival.
The study was published in the journal Cancer Cell.