Scientists from A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB) have identified why certain lung cancer cells become highly resistant to treatment after developing mutations in a key gene called EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers revealed a previously unknown survival mechanism and demonstrated that disrupting it can shrink tumors in laboratory models.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. Many cases are driven by mutations in the EGFR gene, which causes cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. In Southeast Asia, these mutations are found in up to 40–60% of a common type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. While targeted drugs initially work well against these cancers, nearly all patients eventually…