Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have discovered a critical mechanism that may explain why women with lung cancer experience worse health outcomes. The study reveals that lung cancer can co-opt genes typically involved in fetal growth, using them to successfully evade the patient's immune system.
The findings suggest that certain genes normally active during pregnancy can be hijacked by lung cancer cells, creating an environment that allows tumors to grow and resist typical immune responses. This biological mechanism could help explain the disparities in lung cancer survival rates between women and men.
Understanding how cancer cells manipulate these genes represents a significant breakthrough in cancer research. By identifying how tumors can disable immune system defenses, researchers may develop more targeted immunotherapies that can counteract these evasive tactics.
The study highlights the complex interactions between genetic processes and cancer development, underscoring the importance of gender-specific research in understanding disease progression. For medical professionals and researchers, this discovery opens new avenues for developing personalized treatment strategies for lung cancer patients.
