Link Found Between Pregnancy-Related Proteins and Survival Rates in Female Lung Cancer Patients

Recent research indicates that proteins typically associated with pregnancy may play a significant role in the prognosis of female lung cancer patients. These pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs), which are usually produced by the placenta to support fetal development and to protect the fetus from the mother's immune system, have been found to be activated in certain cancer types, including lung cancer.

According to a study conducted by a team from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), there is a notable difference in survival outcomes for female lung cancer patients whose tumors express these PSGs compared to their male counterparts. This study builds on previous findings that PSG genes are activated in approximately 20% of patients with various cancers, including lung, breast, uterine, and colon cancers, and that such activation is generally linked to poorer prognoses.

The research was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, highlighting the significance of targeting these genes to potentially improve survival rates in female lung cancer patients. The team utilized advanced machine learning techniques to analyze data from two RNA-Seq expression datasets, encompassing a total of over 500 patients. The findings revealed that female patients with activated PSG genes experienced significantly worse outcomes than males, particularly when several specific PSG genes were activated.

Another crucial aspect discovered in the study was the correlation between PSG expression and alterations in the KRAS signaling pathway, common in many lung cancer cases. Mutations in the KRAS gene, which is essential for regulating cell growth and division, were more frequently associated with PSG expression in female patients, further complicating their prognosis. In contrast, male patients with similar PSG activation did not exhibit the same detrimental effects on their survival outcomes.

The research team plans to further investigate the intricate relationship between PSG expression and the activation of the KRAS pathway, as well as the implications of pregnancy history and hormone-related genes in lung cancer progression. Dr. Joseph Deasy, the senior author of the study, highlighted that targeting pathways related to PSGs could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for enhancing treatment outcomes for female patients with lung cancer. Given that PSGs are typically not expressed outside of pregnancy, they may serve as promising targets for drug development.

This research underscores the importance of understanding biological differences in cancer between genders, particularly regarding how certain genes can influence disease progression and treatment responses. As the scientific community continues to unravel these complex mechanisms, it may lead to more effective strategies for managing lung cancer and improving survival rates in affected individuals.