Gene silencing paves way to new treatments for breast cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that switching off a gene called CERT makes breast cancer cells more sensitive to a range of drugs. The research is published in the Journal of Pathology.
Their research could also lead to new tests to help doctors determine which breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy by measuring levels of the CERT protein. The study showed that low levels of this protein are associated with a better outcome in women treated with chemotherapy. If confirmed in larger studies it could save women from unnecessary treatment.
By switching off the CERT gene the researchers improved the effects of a range of drugs called taxols (such as paclitaxel) on breast cancer cells. They found that particular cancer cells became more susceptible to a form of cell death called autophagy where the cell eats itself. This approach specifically targeted polyploid cancer cells, those that contain too many chromosomes.
Polyploid cells can lead to chromosomal instability, where cells contain more or fewer than the usual 46 chromosomes. Cancers with chromosomal instability are linked to poor survival because they become even more damaged. This generates differences from one cancer cell to the next that may enable the cancer to resist drug treatment.
Dr Charles Swanton, head of translational research at Cancer Research UKs London Research Institute, said: These results are interesting because they provide some insight into new ways of specifically targeting cancer cells before they develop chromosomal instability a state where the tumour develops a range of characteristics that can lead to drug resistance. We are now trying to exploit this, either with existing drugs, or by developing new ones, to find a combination of drugs that promote this particular type of cell killing.
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: Understanding why treatments can stop working is vital to ensure more cancer patients survive. This research reveals how resistance to treatment in some breast cancers can arise and highlights how we might identify those women who will benefit from chemotherapy, saving many from unnecessary treatment. The researchers are now looking to confirm their findings in a larger group of women, and if we see similar results, a test for CERT levels could become routine in the clinic.
More information: Lee, A., & et al (2011). CERT depletion predicts chemotherapy benefit and mediates cytotoxic and polyploid-specific cancer cell death through autophagy induction The Journal of Pathology DOI: 10.1002/path.2998
Provided by Cancer Research UK
-
Beta Blockers could stop breast cancer spreading
Sep 30, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Match your treatment to your cancer
Jun 30, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Breakthrough could make 'smart drugs' effective for many cancer patients
Jun 27, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Scientists discover how antibiotic molecule found in bacteria stops breast cancer
Aug 22, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Study points to way of improving chemotherapy response
Sep 02, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Motion perception revisited: High Phi effect challenges established motion perception assumptions
Apr 23, 2013 |
3 / 5 (2) |
2
-
Anything you can do I can do better: Neuromolecular foundations of the superiority illusion (Update)
Apr 02, 2013 |
4.5 / 5 (11) |
5
-
The visual system as economist: Neural resource allocation in visual adaptation
Mar 30, 2013 |
5 / 5 (2) |
9
-
Separate lives: Neuronal and organismal lifespans decoupled
Mar 27, 2013 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
0
-
Sizing things up: The evolutionary neurobiology of scale invariance
Feb 28, 2013 |
4.8 / 5 (10) |
14
-
Pressure-volume curve: Elastic Recoil Pressure don't make sense
May 18, 2013
-
If you became brain-dead, would you want them to pull the plug?
May 17, 2013
-
MRI bill question
May 15, 2013
-
Ratio of Hydrogen of Oxygen in Dessicated Animal Protein
May 13, 2013
-
Alcohol and acetaminophen
May 13, 2013
-
Marie Curie's leukemia
May 13, 2013
- More from Physics Forums - Medical Sciences
More news stories
New smartphone application improves colonoscopy preparation
The use of a smartphone application significantly improves patients' preparation for a colonoscopy, according to new research presented today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). The preparation process, which begins days in ...
Cancer
19 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Research examines new methods for managing digestive health
Research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores new methods for managing digestive health through diet and lifestyle.
Cancer
19 hours ago |
not rated yet |
1
New colonoscope provides ground-breaking view of colon
A ground-breaking advance in colonoscopy technology signals the future of colorectal care, according to research presented today at Digestive Disease Week(DDW). Additional research focuses on optimizing the minimal withdrawal ...
Cancer
May 18, 2013 |
5 / 5 (2) |
0
ASCO: combo antibody therapy effective for melanoma
(HealthDay)—Concurrent use of two immune checkpoint antibodies—ipilimumab and nivolumab—may be effective for the treatment of advanced melanoma, according to a proof-of-principal study presented in ...
Cancer
May 17, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Risk factors ID'd for poor cutaneous cell CA outcomes
(HealthDay)—The risks of metastasis and death associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are low, but significant, and risk factors for poor outcome include tumor diameter, invasion beyond ...
Cancer
May 17, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
|
Researchers identify a potential new risk for sleep apnea: Asthma
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma. Using data from the National Institutes of Health (Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)-funded Wisconsin ...
Computational tool translates complex data into simplified 2-dimensional images
In their quest to learn more about the variability of cells between and within tissues, biomedical scientists have devised tools capable of simultaneously measuring dozens of characteristics of individual ...
Study finds that sleep apnea and Alzheimer's are linked
A new study looking at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging adds to the growing body of research linking the two.
New theory on genesis of osteoarthritis comes with successful therapy in mice
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have turned their view of osteoarthritis (OA) inside out. Literally. Instead of seeing the painful degenerative disease as a problem primarily of the cartilage that cushions joints, ...
'Gap' for HIV vaccine efforts after latest setback
The hunt for an HIV vaccine has gobbled up $8 billion in the past decade, and the failure of the most recent efficacy trial has delivered yet another setback to 26 years of efforts.
Ginger compounds may be effective in treating asthma symptoms
Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study from researchers at Columbia University shows purified components of the ...