Scientists have discovered a potential mechanism driving aggressive lung cancer tumors in patients living in neighborhoods with high levels of violent crime. The study, published in Cancer Research Communications, sheds light on the persistent disparity in lung cancer incidence between Black and white men in the United States.
Researchers from the University of Illinois found that stress responses differ significantly between individuals residing in areas with varying levels of violent crime. They observed distinct patterns of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding and gene expression in lung cancer tumors and healthy lung tissue, which correlated with patients’ zip codes.
The study revealed that while overall GR binding was highest in people from high-violence areas, tumor tissues from these individuals showed lower GR binding and reduced levels of GR-regulated genes. This led to increased activation of genes related to inflammation, proliferation, and growth-factor signaling, potentially resulting in worse lung cancer outcomes.
Professor Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, who led the research, emphasized that glucocorticoids and their receptors may be a primary driver of adverse tumor outcomes in patients experiencing chronic environmental stress.
The findings are particularly relevant to addressing racial disparities in lung cancer incidence. Previous research by co-investigator Professor Sage Kim found that Black men in Chicago zip codes with higher violent crime rates had substantially higher levels of hair cortisol, indicating chronic stress.
This study provides valuable insights into how chronic stress “gets under the skin” to influence lung cancer prognosis, potentially explaining why Black men face higher lung cancer rates despite smoking less and starting later in life than white men.
See “Scientists identify potential driver of aggressive lung cancer in patients living in violent neighborhoods” (June 24, 2024)
