New discovery in the cure of lung cancer! Understand the new mechanism of cancer metastasis in 5 minutes

Lung cancer, also known as primary bronchial lung cancer, refers to a malignant tumor that originates from the bronchial mucosa or glands. Data from the World Health Organization show that lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, and it poses a serious threat to human health. In my country, the incidence and mortality of lung cancer are also increasing year by year. The main causes of lung cancer include smoking, environmental pollution, and genetic factors.

In recent years, the metastasis mechanism of lung cancer has become a research hotspot. Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients, and the lungs are the most common site of cancer metastasis. According to statistics, about 54% of cancer metastasis cases occur in the lungs. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of lung cancer metastasis is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Recently, a study published in the journal Nature revealed a new mechanism of lung cancer metastasis and provided a new target for the treatment of lung cancer metastasis. This article will take you to understand the mystery of lung cancer metastasis and the new hope that this research brings to lung cancer treatment.

Why do cancer cells prefer the lungs so much?

1. The lung environment is suitable for cancer cells to survive

Studies have found that the physical properties of the lungs are quite special and are conducive to the survival of cancer cells. Lung cells are easily transformed by certain factors secreted by primary tumors. These factors change the behavior of lung cells, creating favorable conditions for the metastasis and colonization of cancer cells, forming a pre-metastatic environment that is friendly to cancer cells. This environment not only provides soil for cancer cells to survive, but also helps them take root and grow in new territories.

2. Role of aspartate in lung cancer metastasis

When researchers monitored patients with breast cancer lung metastasis, they found that aspartate levels in these patients' lungs were significantly elevated. This finding caught the attention of researchers, who further explored the role of aspartate in lung cancer metastasis. Studies have shown that aspartate can activate NMDA receptors (a molecule that plays an important role in cell signaling) on ​​the surface of cancer cells. When aspartate binds to the NMDA receptor, it triggers a series of reactions within the cancer cells that ultimately lead to increased invasiveness of the cancer cells, making it easier for them to survive and spread in the lungs.

3. Lung aspartate levels are associated with cancer cell invasiveness

To further confirm the role of aspartic acid in lung cancer metastasis, the researchers conducted animal model studies. In a mouse model of primary breast cancer and a mouse model of lung metastasis induced by tumor-secreted factors, the researchers found abnormally high levels of aspartic acid in the lungs. This finding is consistent with the results of studies in human patients, further confirming the key role of aspartic acid in lung cancer metastasis. More notably, the study also found that most of these aspartic acids are located on the surface of cancer cells and are not digested and metabolized by cancer cells. This means that aspartic acid plays a special function on the surface of cancer cells, perhaps as a signaling molecule or participating in intercellular communication, thereby enhancing the invasiveness of cancer cells. These findings provide new targets for the treatment of lung cancer and provide a scientific basis for the development of drugs targeting the aspartate pathway.

Research conclusions and new hopes

1. Aspartate activates NMDA receptors and enhances cancer cell invasiveness

The results showed that aspartate binds to the NMDA receptor subunit GRIN2D on the surface of cancer cells, activating the "switch" of cancer cells and making them more invasive.

2. Role of eIF5A in lung cancer metastasis

When analyzing messenger RNA sequencing data from primary tumor mouse models and lung metastasis mouse models induced by tumor-secreted factors, the study found that the activity of a non-classical translation initiation/elongation factor called eIF5A increased significantly during lung cancer metastasis. Simply put, the activation of eIF5A promotes the expression of collagen in cancer cells, and the increase in collagen increases the invasive and metastatic abilities of cancer cells.

3. Targeted inhibitors are expected to treat lung metastases

Studies have shown that NMDA receptor inhibitors and DOHH (an enzyme involved in a specific metabolic pathway) inhibitors may have potential value in treating lung metastases. These inhibitors can specifically block the process of aspartate activating NMDA receptors or prevent the activation of eIF5A, thereby reducing the invasiveness of cancer cells and are expected to become a new method for treating lung cancer metastasis.

This study revealed the impact of the lung environment on cancer cells during lung cancer metastasis and its mechanism, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. In daily life, each of us should maintain a positive attitude towards life and eat a balanced diet to reduce the risk of lung cancer.

References: Doglioni, G, Fernández-García, J, Igelmann, S et al. Aspartate signaling drives lung metastasis via alternative translation. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08335-7