University of Louisville researchers take a step forward in the fight against lung cancer -
Researchers at the University of Louisville have discovered a group of small molecules that tell certain proteins to kill lung cancer cells. The team, led by Chi Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, published their findings in the April 2014 issue of molecular and cell biology.
One of the characteristics of lung cancer is the deregulation of apoptosis, or controlled cell death. Cancer cells are able to survive in the abnormal state.
The proteins of the Bcl-2 family are key regulators of apoptosis. One of them, Bax, sometimes becomes erratic and loses its ability to maintain its killer function, which leads to the development of the lung tumor. The researchers realized that this meant Bax could be part of the cure as well.
The researchers used virtual screening in their study, a process where they ran through all possible combinations computer program molecules that could bind with the protein Bax to find the best combination. After trying more than 10 million molecules, they found the right one. This small molecule compound Bax activation kills lung cancer cells and inhibits the growth of lung tumors transplanted into mice.
The scientific discovery of Li and his team showed that it is possible to identify small molecules capable of binding and activation of Bax proteins that in turn induce apoptosis in cancer cells . In the study, Li and his team were able to specifically induce tumor cell death while avoiding normal cell death.
The compound also demonstrates synergy with carboplatin widely used chemotherapeutic drug. This means that the potential application of this compound in the treatment of cancer is very broad.
The scientific discovery could form the basis of advanced therapeutics for cancer patients, particularly lung cancer, which is particularly prevalent in Kentucky.
The high mortality rate of lung cancer is partly due to ineffective therapeutic treatments. This makes it very important for scientists to develop new chemotherapeutic drugs for lung cancer.
Li said it could open the way to new treatments for other types of cancer as well. "Lung cancer is a very big problem for us. We have a high mortality rate, and this is one of the reasons we wanted to go after lung cancer," he said. "We are trying to extend the application of our discovery of different types of cancer. "
Li and his team have the opportunity to expand this very soon. the National Institutes of Health recently awarded them a grant of $ 1.5 million to continue their innovative research.
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