Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that blocking an enzyme involved in lung inflammation can significantly reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.
The study, published in the journal Science Advances, showed that suppressing the enzyme caspase-1 sharply decreased the likelihood of tumor formation in experiments conducted on mice.
During experiments on laboratory mice, scientists discovered that caspase-1 actively operates during the early stages of tumor formation. When animals were administered a drug that suppresses the enzyme, the probability of tumors appearing dropped sharply.
Results were even more pronounced when researchers combined the caspase-1 inhibitor with a second drug designed to block the inflammatory protein IL-1β. Under this dual treatment, almost 20 percent of the animals developed no tumors at all.
Role of Chronic Inflammation
The study authors noted that chronic inflammation plays a major role in the onset of lung cancer, influencing disease development in both smokers and individuals who have never smoked. They stated that suppressing the inflammatory process could represent a novel approach to preventing the disease.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer worldwide. While tobacco smoking remains the primary cause, chronic tissue inflammation caused by environmental exposures and respiratory conditions is increasingly recognized as a key driver of tumor growth in non-smokers.
The enzyme caspase-1 forms a core part of the immune system's inflammatory response, converting precursor proteins into active cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). When inflammation becomes persistent, these cellular pathways can contribute to tissue damage and foster conditions favorable for cancer cells.
Clinical Trials and Drug Repurposing
A key focus of the research is that the caspase-1 inhibitor tested in the study has already undergone clinical trials for treating rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks joint tissues, causing painful swelling and damage.
The researchers explained that because the drug has already completed initial human safety testing for inflammatory disorders, it could be repurposed much faster for lung cancer prevention if its effectiveness is confirmed in future human trials.
The findings were published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The research team was based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
