In the latest research report published in the international journal Nature Communications, scientists from the University of Alberta and other institutions have discovered a new mechanism that makes tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy. It is expected that relevant research results will contribute to the development of breast treatment. A new method of cancer treatment.
Researcher Michael Jewer said that more than 20% of breast cancer patients die from cancer cells’ resistance to treatment and cancer metastasis. One way cancer cells become resistant to treatment is hypoxia (low oxygen levels), in which tumor tissue grows significantly faster than surrounding tissues. This can cause major changes in cells, because blood vessels usually cannot grow deep into the tumor, and certain areas within the tumor lack oxygen and nutrients. The most important change is the plasticity of cancer cells. Yes, it makes tumor cells more metastatic and aggressive.
Before, researchers focused on mTOR inhibitors. These drugs can treat cancer in many ways. Similar to hypoxia, mTOR inhibitors can interfere with the cellular pathways of cancer cells. Therefore, researchers want to hire. Research has determined whether these drugs act on tumor cells in a manner similar to hypoxia. It has been found that mTOR inhibitors can actually mimic the hypoxia mode and cause the formation of three different mRNAs, which have the body's ability to produce proteins through genes. The genetic code or information (these different versions of mRNA) is particularly suitable for producing proteins when cancers (such as hypoxia and chemotherapy) are under stress. The protein produced can lead to tumor formation. With a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that promote tumor progression and metastasis, when researchers use an experimental drug called ISRIB, Jewer may be able to design new therapies that stop tumor progression. Thereafter, the progression of the tumor is suppressed, and ISRIB can interfere with the reprogramming process of protein production, and it occurs in three different mRNAs. In the next step, researchers will continue to study and observe whether compounds such as ISRIB can be used to effectively prevent and inhibit cancer cell metastasis and the resistance to treatment. Such drugs can reduce various side effects of cancer treatment.