Drug that targets an inflammatory enzyme could help prevent lung cancer
Every year, lung cancer kills more than 100,000 people in the United States. Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, but other environmental exposures can also contribute to the disease.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with over 100,000 people succumbing to the disease annually. Smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, but environmental exposures can also contribute to the illness. MIT researchers have discovered that blocking an enzyme associated with lung inflammation may help prevent the development of tumors.
This enzyme, caspase-1, is active in tumor formation in mice. When treated with a small-molecule drug that inhibits caspase-1, mice exhibited a reduced likelihood of developing lung tumors. The drug has already progressed to clinical trials for other diseases, and the researchers aim to test its potential as a preventive medication for individuals at high risk of lung cancer.
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