SNU, Harvard conducts joint research for 7 years

Metastatic brain tumor and primary lung cancer were found to have gotten different genetic characteristics in the course of genetic mutation, researchers said.

By making the most of these characteristics, medical professionals will be able to upgrade the effect of targeted therapies, they added

The joint research team of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) attached to Harvard University College of Medicine has recently released the results of analyzing the genetic mutations of metastatic brain tumors and primary lung cancer.

Professor Baek Seon-ha (left) of the Department of Neurosurgery at SNUH and Professor Park Seong-hye of the Department of Pathology at SNUH

Brain tumors spread from lung cancer are very malignant, and the number of patients has been increasing recently. However, their treatments have been limited due to their insufficient study

The research team has selected 73 patients suffering from brain tumors spread from lung cancer and analyzed the genetic mutations of metastatic brain tumors and primary lung cancer.

The Korean and U.S. researchers confirmed MYC, YAP1, MMP13, and CDKN2A/B genetic mutations occur in metastatic brain tumors, unlike primary lung cancer. Even the same cancer cells showed different genetic mutations, depending on whether they belong to the lung or brain.

The research team explained this is a very significant finding in the targeted treatment of brain tumors spread from lung cancer. If medical professionals treat patients with targeted therapies developed to suit the characteristics unique to a metastatic brain tumor, they will be able to upgrade therapeutic effects, it added.

The latest research is the result of the seven years of joint study since 2013 between SNUH and MGH. The two institutions have shared case reports and treatment methods through 14 video conferences, and have several joint studies underway by strengthening their cooperation in research.

“We jointly published the genetic mutations observed only in metastatic brain tumor in the journal Cancer Discovery jointly with MGH in 2015,” said Professor Baek Seon-ha of the Department of Neurosurgery at SNUH. “The recent research is its follow-up study, a result of the close cooperation and continuous joint study between the two hospitals.”

Professor Park Seong-hye of the Department of Pathology at SNUH also said, “This research will exert a decisive influence on the research and deciding on the treatment method of brain tumor spread from lung cancer.”

Co-researchers from the U.S. side were Professor Priscilla Brastianos, and research fellow Scott Carter of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The research results were published on the online edition of the March issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited