Enzyme discovery provides insight into ‘undruggable’ lung cancer gene

A Cancer Research UK study has discovered an enzyme that could form the basis of a new means of targeting a gene responsible for lung cancer.

The team from the organisation's Cambridge Research Institute has found that K-Ras, one of the most commonly mutated genes in lung cancer patients, is reliant on a trigger enzyme known as C-Raf.

Currently, K-Ras is identified as a vital target for cancer treatments, but has thus far proven to be "undruggable", with compounds developed to block the protein it generates failing to do so.

However, it is now thought that targeting the C-Raf enzyme could provide an easier means of preventing cancer development, a finding corroborated by research among animal models.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "The discovery of K-Ras was an important milestone but it turned out to be more difficult to target than we initially thought. This study offers us a way to target the gene through the back door."

Earlier this year, Cancer Research UK published a study showing that counting circulating tumour cells in the bloodstream of lung cancer patients can help to diagnose the severity of their condition.