Preliminary Insights on the Role of Inflammation in Cancer

Extract

Two recent studies have arrived at similar conclusions about the potential role of inflammation and cancer. In one, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., found that therapies targeting the enzyme IKK2, which helps activate the body’s inflammatory response, may effectively treat certain lung cancers. The scientists discovered that hindering the ability of the enzyme to command cellular activity slowed lung cancer tumor growth in mice and increased their lifespan.

The researcers also identified Timp1—a gene involved in regulating cell growth, and one of the NF-κB target genes—as a key mediator for tumor growth. Timp-1 ess-entially carries orders from NF-κB, a protein complex that controls DNA transcription, to tell lung cancer cells to proli- ferate.

“Our results thus suggest the possible application of IKK2 and Timp-1 inhibitors in treating lung cancer,” said Inder Verma, Ph.D., a professor of molecular biology at Salk and the paper’s lead author. “We believe that this research could one day lead to therapies that improve the outlook for lung cancer patients.” The study appears in the February 12, 2012 issue of Nature Cell Biology.