Lung cancer, nicotine and brain metastases
June 17, 2020
Par: chef-projet@dnf.asso.fr
Dernière mise à jour: June 17, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
Lung cancer is the most deadly cancer in France: it causes 30,000 deaths per year, and only 17% of patients are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis. But in patients already suffering from lung cancer, nicotine may also promote the development of brain metastases.
NSCLC and smoking
A study conducted by a team at Wake Forest Medical School demonstrated the negative effects of nicotine on the development of brain metastases in lung cancer patients. This research is based on the examination of 281 patients. Remember that there are two types of lung cancer: - SCC, or "small cell lung cancer," which accounts for approximately 15% of lung cancers and is strongly linked to smoking. - NSCLC, or "non-small cell lung cancer," which accounts for more than 80% of cases. Until now, in the treatment of this type of cancer, brain metastases were looked for without understanding exactly why they occurred.
Nicotine to blame
During the study, it emerged that smoking patients with NSCLC were more likely to develop brain cancer. According to the Wake Forest researchers, the nicotine molecule, although non-carcinogenic, may be responsible for the migration of cancer cells from the lungs to the brain. It may actually cross the blood-brain barrier and alter microglia, the main active immune defense of the central nervous system.
Feverfew to our rescue?
To counter this dramatic side effect of nicotine, the team is currently studying the impact of parthenolide, a substance found in the flowers and fruits of feverfew. In mice, parthenolide appears to block brain metastases caused by nicotine. If this action were to be proven, it could play a significant role in the management of NSCLC. Hence the importance of supporting and encouraging research in this area.
Anaïs Col, “Lung cancer: nicotine may promote the development of brain metastases”, www.pourquoidocteur.fr, June 8, 2020 https://www.pourquoidocteur.fr/Articles/Question-d-actu/32768-Cancer-poumon-nicotine-favoriserait-developpement-metastases-cerebrales
