Tuesday, April 23, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Indian-American Among Scientists To Identify New Potential Breast Cancer Drug

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Aug, 2017 10:58 AM
    Scientists, including an Indian-American researcher, have identified a molecule that can help treat breast cancer, giving hope to patients who have become resistant to traditional therapies.
     
     
    The first-in-class molecule shuts down oestrogen- sensitive breast cancer in a new way, researchers said.
     
     
    First-in-class drugs are those that work by a unique mechanism - in this case a molecule that targets a protein on the oestrogen receptor of tumour cells.
     
     
    The potential drug offers hope for patients whose breast cancer has become resistant to traditional therapies.
     
     
    "This is a fundamentally different, new class of agents for oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer," said Ganesh Raj, professor at the University of Texas Southwestern (UT Southwestern) Simmons Cancer Center.
     
     
    "Its unique mechanism of action overcomes the limitations of current therapies," Raj said.
     
     
    All breast cancers are tested to determine if they require oestrogen to grow and about 80 per cent are found to be oestrogen-sensitive, researchers said.
     
     
    These cancers can often be effectively treated with hormone therapy, such as tamoxifen, but as many as a third of these cancers eventually become resistant, they said.
     
     
     
     
    The new compound is a potential highly effective, next- line treatment for these patients, said Raj.
     
     
    Traditional hormonal drugs, such as tamoxifen, work by attaching to a molecule called the oestrogen receptor in cancer cells, preventing oestrogen from binding to the receptor, a necessary step for cancer cells to multiply.
     
     
    However, the oestrogen receptor can mutate and change its shape over time so that the treatment drug no longer fits neatly with the receptor. When this happens, the cancer cells start multiplying again.
     
     
    "There has been intense interest in developing drugs that block the ability of the oestrogen receptor - the prime target in most breast cancers - from interacting with the co- regulator proteins that cause a tumour's growth," said David Mangelsdorf, professor at UT Southwestern.
     
     
    Blocking such "protein-protein interactions" has been a dream of cancer researchers for decades.
     
     
     
     
    The drug works by blocking other molecules - proteins called co-factors - that also must attach to the oestrogen receptor for cancer cells to multiply.
     
     
    The new molecule, dubbed ERX-11, mimics a peptide, or protein building block.
     
     
    So far, it has been tested in mice and in cancer cells removed from patients and works well in both models, and there have been no signs of toxicity in the tests.
     
     
    If successfully translated to a human therapy, another advantage of ERX-11 is that it could be taken orally by patients, rather than as an infusion.
     
     
     
     
    The researchers are hoping to get a clinical trial under way in about a year. The notion of blocking protein co-factors has implications for treatment of other cancers as well.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    We All Knew It, Now Its Official: French Fries Can Kill You!

    We All Knew It, Now Its Official: French Fries Can Kill You!
    Yes, it's painful but unfortunately true. Munching on those golden sticks of starchy goodness will most certainly accelerate your demise

    We All Knew It, Now Its Official: French Fries Can Kill You!

    Eat Walnuts To Feel Fuller For Longer

    People, walnuts, salmon and canola oil regularly are likely to experience favourable changes in appetite hormones associated with reduction in hunger.

    Eat Walnuts To Feel Fuller For Longer

    Study Finds If Diarrhea Serve A Purpose

    Study Finds If Diarrhea Serve A Purpose
    In a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, investigators explore the immune mechanism that drives diarrhea, concluding that it does play a critical role in pathogen clearance in the early stages of infection.

    Study Finds If Diarrhea Serve A Purpose

    Regular Bedtime Might Lead You To A Successful Work Life

    Regular Bedtime Might Lead You To A Successful Work Life
    Sometimes it can be hard going to the bed early. Busy work schedules, some cliffhanger moments in your favourite TV series can make you wide awake till the late hours of night.

    Regular Bedtime Might Lead You To A Successful Work Life

    Turns Out, 'Drunk You' Not That Different From 'Sober You'

    Turns Out, 'Drunk You' Not That Different From 'Sober You'
    Your personality may change when you drink, but less than you think, according to a recent study.

    Turns Out, 'Drunk You' Not That Different From 'Sober You'

    Eat Broccoli To Keep Diabetes In Check

    Eat Broccoli To Keep Diabetes In Check
    Here's another reason to consume broccoli, as researchers have identified a new anti-diabetic substance, richly occurring in broccoli, which can significantly lower the blood sugar levels.

    Eat Broccoli To Keep Diabetes In Check