The Crucial Role of Arginase 2: Unveiling its Functional Impact on SCLC Tumor Cells
Mentor 1
Huizi Chen
Start Date
28-4-2023 12:00 AM
Description
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat. It is characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis, and arises from the epithelial cells of the lungs. SCLC accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases with a 5-year overall survival rate of ~7%. Despite initial responses to therapy, SCLC has a high rate of relapse, and new treatment approaches are urgently needed. Arginase 2, an enzyme that regulates the metabolism of the amino acid arginine, has been found to be upregulated in SCLC tumor cells and is associated with increased tumor cell proliferation and decreased programmed cell death. However, the role of arginase 2 in SCLC and its potential as a therapeutic target are not fully understood. We hypothesize that high expression of arginase 2 in SCLC tumor cells leads to arginine depletion from the tumor microenvironment and is an important mechanism leading to the suppression of an adaptive immune response. To test our hypothesis, we developed two experiments. The first experiment aims to determine the effects of inhibiting arginase 2 activity on SCLC tumor cell growth and viability. The second experiment aims to determine the impact of arginase 2 in SCLC tumor cells on T cells through co-culture assays. Our findings could unveil a potential new vulnerability in SCLC that could be exploited for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway. Therefore, our study could ultimately improve the long-term survival of patients with metastatic SCLC.
The Crucial Role of Arginase 2: Unveiling its Functional Impact on SCLC Tumor Cells
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat. It is characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis, and arises from the epithelial cells of the lungs. SCLC accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases with a 5-year overall survival rate of ~7%. Despite initial responses to therapy, SCLC has a high rate of relapse, and new treatment approaches are urgently needed. Arginase 2, an enzyme that regulates the metabolism of the amino acid arginine, has been found to be upregulated in SCLC tumor cells and is associated with increased tumor cell proliferation and decreased programmed cell death. However, the role of arginase 2 in SCLC and its potential as a therapeutic target are not fully understood. We hypothesize that high expression of arginase 2 in SCLC tumor cells leads to arginine depletion from the tumor microenvironment and is an important mechanism leading to the suppression of an adaptive immune response. To test our hypothesis, we developed two experiments. The first experiment aims to determine the effects of inhibiting arginase 2 activity on SCLC tumor cell growth and viability. The second experiment aims to determine the impact of arginase 2 in SCLC tumor cells on T cells through co-culture assays. Our findings could unveil a potential new vulnerability in SCLC that could be exploited for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway. Therefore, our study could ultimately improve the long-term survival of patients with metastatic SCLC.
