Gene weakness could boost cancer treatment
Wednesday March 17th, 2010
Scientists have found a possible genetic treatment for some types of bowel cancer.
About one in twenty bowel cancers are caused by inherited mutations in one of two genes: MLH1 or MSH2. This means that DNA damage to cells cannot be repaired efficiently, making cancer more likely.
Affected individuals are more likely to develop hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.
Professor Alan Ashworth and colleagues at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, say these mutations could act as a weakness, and a "powerful new target for attacking cancer cells".
The team found that blocking the action of a DNA repair protein called DNA Polymerases stops cancer cells from repairing DNA damage, leading to cell death. Targeting cells that carry one of these mutations with a drug that blocks this second part of DNA repair could be an effective treatment for bowel cancer, they believe.
Such a targeted treatment would also leave normal health cells relatively unaffected, compared with chemotherapy, for example. The study is published in the journal Cancer Cell.
Professor Ashworth explained that his team used an approach that showing great promise in clinical trials of breast and ovarian cancer patients.
He said: "We need to identify a drug to exploit this weakness in cancer cells so that we can provide improved treatment for this type of the disease. We are also looking to apply this new approach to other types of cancer and other genetic faults as we move towards tailored treatments."
Dr Lesley Walker of cancer information at Cancer Research UK added: "It's very encouraging to see the development of highly targeted treatments tailored to the requirements of individual patients."
Martin, S. A. et al DNA polymerases as potential therapeutic targets for cancers deficient in the DNA mismatch repair proteins, MSH2 or MLH1. Cancer Cell, Vol. 17, March 16, 2010, pp. 235-48.
Tags: Cancer | Genetics | Internal Medicine | Men’s Health | UK News
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