Infectious Agent May Impact Lung Cancer

	Tweet

A previously unknown effect of an infectious agent relevant to the prevention and/or treatment of lung cancer has been discovered by a UMDNJ research team led by Melissa Rogers, Ph.D., professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

The infectious agent, mycoplasma bacterium, induces the synthesis of an important growth factor, BMP2, in lung cells. After enough time, mycoplasma can convert normal lung cells into cells that form tumors. BMP2 may accelerate this process. With the help of a two-year grant for $120,000 from the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research and a Team Science Initiative Grant from UMDNJ, Dr. Rogers and her collaborator, Dr. John Langenfeld of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, are working to understand the relationship between bacterial infection and BMP2 in lung tumors.

The relevance of this study stems from the fact that mycoplasma is a curable bacteria. “If we think mycoplasma is promoting tumors, especially in lung cancer, then we should be curing it.” said Rogers. “Even though doctors don’t normally look at mycoplasma as a pathogen, it may be a tumor promoter. 

“Our linkage of mycoplasma infection to BMP2 induction suggests that antimycoplasma treatment may benefit lung cancer patients,” said Rogers. “Furthermore, understanding how BMP2, a potent regulator of cell behavior is regulated in normal and transformed lung cells may identify novel chemotherapy approaches.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Research indicates more people will die from lung cancer than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined.

Rogers believes this study will lay the groundwork for examining whether high risk patients should be screened and treated for mycoplasma infections to prevent lung cancer and whether lung cancer patients should be treated with antibiotics to eradicate mycoplasma infection.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is the nation’s largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,600 students attending the state’s three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty practices at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a statewide mental health and addiction services network.

Source: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)

RELATED STORIES:
EU lung cancer down in men, up in women   Predicting Survival of Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer   Novel animal model of lung adenocarcinoma   Researchers aim to develop instrument to help physicians estimate risk for developing lung cancer   An “HIV-test” Equivalent for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer   Chest x-rays detect early lung cancer   Heavy marijuana use not linked to lung cancer   Study Helps Explain Why Black Patients with Lung Cancer Have Surgery Less Often than Whites   China has become the 89th country to ratify the global tobacco treaty   Survey finds significant racial differences in lung cancer beliefs   New radiation therapy could help in lung cancer   Lung cancer patients fight stigma   Proton Therapy Safe, Effective for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients   Dietary Phytoestrogens Reduce Risk of Lung Cancer   New hope for ways to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer   Gene is Linked to Lung Cancer Development in Never Smokers   Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer   Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: Where Do We Stand?   Exercise Can Reduce a Smoker’s Lung Cancer Risk, but Quitting Still Most Important   Quitting Smoking After Lung Cancer Diagnosis Can Prolong Life   BATTLE Links Potential Biomarkers to Drugs for Lung Cancer   Study reveals cancer-linked epigenetic effects of smoking

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]