A new study from the University of Oklahoma has provided a new understanding of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer.<\/p>\n
Currently, LCNEC has a high chance of metastasis, no standard treatment and a poor survival rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the rarity of this cancer, we have not understood a lot about it,\u201d stated Abdul Rafeh Naqash, a medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and co-senior author of the study.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this study, we have examined two types of information: molecular data, which helps us understand this tumour and its subtyping, and clinical outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s most detailed study of a rare lung cancer<\/p>\n
The new study is considered to be the most comprehensive characterisation of LCNEC to date.<\/p>\n
To better understand the workings of this rare lung cancer, the research team analysed data from 590 patients across numerous health systems<\/a> in the United States and Europe.<\/p>\n To better understand the molecular makeup of LCNEC, the research team partnered with Caris Life Sciences, which provided comprehensive molecular profiling datasets.<\/p>\n They found that LCNEC shares features with the better-known small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, yet there were aspects of LCNEC that didn\u2019t resemble either. Machine learning helped to differentiate those unclassified tumours.<\/p>\n Protein\u2019s role in evading the immune system<\/p>\n Researchers also found promising news regarding a protein involved in LCNEC. The protein, called FGL1, plays a role in helping cancer evade the body\u2019s immune system by deactivating immune cells.<\/p>\n However, current drugs are available to inhibit FGL1, potentially resulting in the reactivation of immune cells and killing the tumour.<\/p>\n James Hamrick, chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance at Caris Life Sciences, explained: \u201cThis highly collaborative study provides insights into the biology of LCNEC and suggests new avenues for treatments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to improvements in patient outcomes in LCNEC as this line of scientific inquiry continues.\u201d<\/p>\n LCNEC doesn\u2019t respond well to immunotherapy<\/p>\n In addition, researchers found that LCNEC tends to have less infiltration of a type of immune cell called T cells<\/a>, which means the T cells are not as likely to recognise and attack tumour cells.<\/p>\n The T cell finding also indicates that LCNEC will not respond as well to immunotherapy, as the researchers found in their examination of clinical data. Patients with LCNEC did not fare better when receiving immunotherapy, either alone or in addition to chemotherapy.<\/p>\n Looking to the future: Clinical trials for more precise treatments<\/p>\n