Lung Cancer Treatment for Women: New Research Insights
A new study is exploring why some treatments don’t work as well for women with squamous cell lung cancer, a common type of non-small cell lung cancer often linked to smoking. This form of lung cancer hasn’t responded well to the newer targeted therapies that help other types of lung cancer. But researcher Dr. Milica Momcilovic is working to change that by studying how hormones like estrogen may affect treatment outcomes in women.
What is TAK228, and why is it being studied?
TAK228 (also called sapanisertib) is an investigational targeted therapy designed to block the mTOR pathway, a major growth-and-survival signaling system that many cancers rely on. It’s considered a dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, meaning it can shut down two key “switches” within the mTOR system that help tumor cells grow and resist treatment. Researchers are studying TAK228 in lung cancer, especially squamous cell lung cancer. This subtype has fewer targeted treatment options than other forms of non-small cell lung cancer.
Her early research in lab and animal models suggests that TAK228 may affect male and female tumors differently. In mouse models of squamous cell lung cancer, TAK228 reduced tumor growth more in male mice than in female mice. Researchers think estrogen-related signaling may interfere with how female tumors respond. When researchers paired TAK228 with an anti-estrogen medication (such as letrozole, a drug used to lower estrogen levels), tumors in female mice responded better and tumor growth decreased more significantly. This could eventually lead to more personalized treatments for women with lung cancer, helping doctors choose the right therapies and improving survival and quality of life. (Source: American Lung Association)
Read the complete article here. >
Resources for Living With Stage 4 Cancer
Learn more about topics like Lung Cancer Treatments for Women by becoming a member of our community. Gain access to trusted resources, as well as online support and education from Dr. Sharon May, Ph.D., LMFT.
