Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – Smoking along with exposure to asbestos, which was often used for ceilings and roofs in homes and workplaces are some of the most common factors linked to the risk of lung cancer. Other factors such as Arsenic in drinking water and air pollution are also known to increase the risk of Lung cancer.
With increased focus on upper respiratory tract infections by researchers, since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, lung health has been of primary concern as Covid-19 is known to cause damage to the lungs.
In the UK lung cancer is one of the most common causes of death. Research by a team of scientists from the University of Southampton, have discovered a new method to identify individuals with twice the likelihood of leading to fatalities from the disease.
Scientists from the University of Southampton, Centre for Cancer Immunology have applied state of the art methods to gather knowledge on how a particular type of cell that surrounds tumors, known as a fibroblast with more information than previously known. They are healthy cells providing support to heal wounds; however, it can end up hijacked by cancer to assist tumors grow and spread as indicated by researchers.
With the aid of equipment made by university engineers, together with ultra-modern technology, Researchers identified 3 different types of fibroblasts for the 1st time, with 1 ‘hijacked’ myofibroblast and 2 ‘normal’ fibroblasts.
The study demonstrates that persons with an elevated proportion of myofibroblasts have double the risk of dying from lung cancer within 4 years when contrasted to persons with less myofibroblasts in their tumors.
Dr Chris Hanley co-lead of the research says “These types of fibroblasts indicate whether a patient is going to survive for a longer or shorter period of time, so this information can potentially be used to give them a more accurate prognosis.”
“We also believe that patients who have a high number of myofibroblasts in their tumour could benefit from new treatments that can target this particular cell which would ultimately improve survival rates.”
Researchers analyzed 10,000 fibroblasts from 100 patients, breaking them down one by one with the application of single cell sequencing.
Applying a machine produced by engineers at the University, scientists could capture individual cells into a droplet, prior to bursting the cell to capture the various molecules, which permitted them to count the number of various molecules there are in a given cell, with a fingerprint given to it.
The applied method indicated the 3 types of fibroblasts, each having its own molecular fingerprint and function. These fingerprints were utilized in tracking the fibroblast’s origins and revealed that only myofibroblasts were directly associated with elevating the risk of patient fatality with lung cancer.
“What hasn’t been clear until now is whether all fibroblasts are helpful to cancer, but this work shows that myofibroblasts are the most dangerous culprits. If we can take out myofibroblasts, we have a better chance of taking out lung cancers,” explained Dr Chris Hanley.
This was the most extensive study ever carried out, into fibroblasts in lung cancer patients, taking 6 years to finish. This was an idea of Dr Chris Hanley and Professor Gareth Thomas further back when the technological advances were not established for them to conduct the study.
Professor Thomas, co-lead says “We started this idea from scratch when this was a very new technology and it’s been a long haul and an incredible amount of work to get to this point. But the insight that it’s given us provides so many opportunities for future projects and we have a much clearer idea of where we’re going because of this.”
He further indicated that the next step was to produce methods of targeting ‘bad’ fibroblasts to increase the efficiency of treatments in high-risk lung cancer patients.
