It seems to be particularly important for the growth and survival of some cancer cells and large amounts of the molecule are often present in the cells of non-small cell lung cancers, sometimes in a mutated, over-active form.
In an in vivo model using severe combined immunodeficient mice, subcutaneous tumors were generated by inoculating the animals with cells from human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines.
The study, of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who were also receiving chemotherapy, showed an increase in "local failure, " meaning cancer cells at the radiation site either weren't killed or began growing.