THE PROJECT "IMMUNE RESPONSE IN LUNG CANCER" FUNDED BY THE RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LITHUANIA

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer – related mortality worldwide. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Despite early lung cancer diagnostic relapse rate after surgical resection is high. Scientific literature indicates that not only tumor characteristics but also patient’s immune status and response determines tumor development and progression. A new prognostic markers is required to select patients at high – risk for cancer relapse. Studies have shown, that accumulation of immunosuppressive lymphocytes maintain immunological self-tolerance and is associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis. According to the literature, tumor infiltrating immune cells are related to patient‘s survival and prognosis. The data about immune cells in lung cancer development and progression remains controversial. Many factors may lead to different endpoints. The molecular mechanisms which my help us better understand the role of immune cells in the development and progression of lung cancer remain to be elucidated. The new project “Immune response in lung cancer” was started on 2014-03-01 in Department of Pulmonology and Immunology Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Medical academy. This research is funded by a Grant (No. MIP-035/2013) from the Research Council of Lithuania. Great importance is to investigate suitable immune markers related with the lung cancer progression. The results of our research may reveal useful information in the course of immune response in lung cancer. The findings could also provide the opportunity to design efficacious follow up plans for surgically treated lung cancer patients.