Pregnancy-Related Proteins in Tumors Associated with Poorer Survival in Female Lung Cancer Patients

Recent research from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has uncovered a link between pregnancy-associated proteins and lung cancer outcomes in women. These proteins, known as pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs), are normally produced by the placenta during pregnancy to support fetal development and modulate the mother's immune response. Interestingly, these same proteins can be expressed in lung tumors, particularly in female patients, leading to worse survival rates.

The study indicates that while PSG genes can be activated in both men and women with lung cancer, female patients exhibit significantly poorer prognoses when their tumors express these proteins. This finding was highlighted at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting.

Using advanced artificial intelligence techniques, the researchers discovered that female patients with PSG-expressing tumors had notably lower survival rates than male patients with similar gene expression. Furthermore, the study revealed a correlation between PSG expression and alterations in the KRAS signaling pathway, a key regulator of cell growth often mutated in lung cancers. Notably, PSG activation in male lung cancer patients did not seem to influence their prognosis.

The research analyzed two large datasets—The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium—comprising hundreds of male and female lung cancer patients, confirming the robustness of these findings.

Looking ahead, the team aims to further explore the relationship between PSG expression, hormone-related factors, and mutations in the KRAS pathway. Promise lies in targeting PSG pathways as a novel therapeutic approach, especially since these proteins are generally absent outside of pregnancy, making them potentially specific drug targets.

This discovery not only enhances understanding of sex differences in lung cancer outcomes but also opens new avenues for personalized treatments that could improve survival rates in female patients.