Lung Cancer

Lung cancer cells invade the adjacent blood vessels and lymphatic vessels and can easily reach distant organs through the body's circulation to form metastases. The mortality rate of primary tumors is about 10%, while the mortality rate of metastases is about 90%. Since the blood supply to the brain accounts for about 1/5 of the total body circulation, there are more chances for metastatic cancer cells to occur. The incidence of brain metastases from lung cancer ranges from 23% to 65%, making it the most common type of metastatic brain tumor with a poor prognosis.

Figure 1. Brain CT and lung CT. (Ma, R., et al., 2018)

Basic research

• CXCR4 protein. High expression of CXCR4 is associated with brain metastases from lung cancer.
• S100B protein. Its expression is strongly associated with the presence of brain metastases.
• microRNAs. microRNAs regulate the expression of target RNAs, of which microRNA-328 and microRNA-378 play an important role in lung cancer brain metastasis.
• Placenta growth factor (PLGF). PLGF allows small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells to cross the blood-brain barrier, and when its expression is inhibited, it suppresses the chance of brain metastasis from SCLC cells in vitro in animal models.
• Nestin is an intermediate filament-type protein that has a role in neuronal differentiation and is a characteristic marker of neural stem cells, and its expression is significantly higher in lung squamous carcinomas that develop brain metastases than in lung adenocarcinomas.

Molecularly targeted therapies

Molecularly targeted therapy is an important tool in the treatment of lung cancer. Molecularly targeted drugs offer a new approach to lung cancer brain metastases. The response rate of TKI drugs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR receptor mutations is 70%-80% and has become an important treatment for brain metastases.

Anti-angiogenic therapy

The most important signaling pathway for angiogenesis in brain metastases from lung cancer is the VEGF pathway. Recombinant humanized monoclonal IgG antibodies, which can bind to VEGF and inhibit tumor neovascularisation, are considered a promising therapeutic option.

With the advent of early diagnosis methods and precise treatment, lung cancer patients' survival and quality of life have been greatly improved. However, the lack of an ideal treatment option for brain metastases from lung cancer has seriously affected the survival status of this group of patients. Alfa Cytology helps you to understand the biological behaviors related to how tumor cells colonize, grow and invade the central nervous system and the mechanisms by which they arise, which is crucial for research such as the prevention and development of drugs to treat brain metastases from the lung cancer cells. Please feel free to contact us for more solutions.

References

1. Ma, R., et al. (2018). "Suspected brain metastasis from lung cancer mimicking intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report." Medicine, 97(10):p e0106.
2. Brastianos, P. K., et al. (2015). “Genomic characterization of brain metastases reveals branched evolution and potential therapeutic targets.” Cancer Discov, 5(11):1164-1177.