ESMO TAT 2021 | STK11/ KEAP1 co-mutant lung adenocarcinoma is dependent on SCD1 to evade ferroptosis

Triparna Sen, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, outlines recent findings on SCD1 dependence in lung adenocarcinoma with concurrent STK11/KEAP1 mutations, and the potential of SCD1 as a therapeutic target. The co-mutations increase the proliferative and invasive potential of lung adenocarcinoma cells, and up-regulate genes involved in evading ferroptosis, a form of non-apoptotic cell death, such as SCD1. Inhibiting SCD1 decreased tumor activity, which suggests SCD1 is a suitable therapeutic target for this subset of lung adenocarcinoma. This interview took place during the ESMO TAT 2021 conference.