Uncovering the Protumourigenic Role of the ADAM17 Protease in Lung Cancer

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Mutations in the KRAS gene are the most studied causes of lung adenocarcinoma. However, the development of specific drugs inhibiting KRAS has proven challenging, and there is now a pressing need to identify new ways to inhibit KRAS. Using a series of preclinical KRAS mutant animal models, we found that the specific genetic and therapeutic inhibition of the protease ADAM17 suppressed tumour burden significantly. Our findings pave the way for the development of new drugs that can be used to treat lung adenocarcinoma.