FACTS:
The U of M scientists have discovered the binding site where drug compounds activate the ‘off switch’ in many types of cancer cells. This opens the door for an entirely new class of anti-cancer drugs for tumor suppression. This technology will work in conjunction with a previous study that determined certain molecules and chemicals were capable of killing and shrinking cancer and tumor cells, but it was unknown where to physically apply the drugs to interact with the protein. Scientists now know exactly where to deliver the drugs for optimal effect. By combining the ‘what’ with the ‘where’, we are one step closer to eradicating cancer.
QUOTES:
Goutham Narla, M.D., Ph.D. chief of the division of genetic medicine in the department of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School:
“Working together, we now have a story about being able to drug this previously undruggable tumor suppressor.” … “This allowed us to see for the first time precisely how different parts of the protein were brought together and stabilized by the compound. We can now use that information to start developing compounds that could achieve the desired profile, specificity and potency to potentially translate to the clinic.” … “It’s an illustration of how collaboration and team science can solve some of the questions like this that scientists have been asking for many years,” … “Solving the structure without the biological knowledge of how best to apply it against cancer, would only be half of the story. And if we were just activating PP2A, killing cancer cells and slowing the growth of cancer without the structural data — that would be a really nice half-story as well. But working together, we now have a story about being able to drug this previously undruggable tumor suppressor.”
SOURCE:
To read the scientific journal article for this story, click here.
