During the recent study, researchers detected an enzyme which could be potentional marker for diagnosing lung cancer. This enzyme called AKR1B10 was found in great amounts in lung cancer and especially in the ones that are found to be caused by smoking. Researchers found interesting fact that this enzyme can be present even if the cancer has not yet developed so it can be potentional marker in diagnosing lung cancer and give better prognosis to patients. It can also serve as potentional drug in future lung cancer treatments.

During the experimental trials researchers used test tubes and cell cultures revealed that this enzyme reduces levels of the retinoic acid which is the most active form of Vitamin A and it was found to be very strong anticancerous agent. This happens because it has strong retinal reduction activity which favours chemical reduction transformation and this causes the precursor of retinoic acid, retinal to transform into retinol which is least active form of Vitamin A.

It’s already known that retinoic acid is present in development of fetus and in cell proliferation by controlling the expression of some genes. It was found that lack of retinoic acid in cells which is the effect of this enzyme is related to the lack of cell differentiation and therefore favours the development of lung cancer.