<p>Dr Srinivasan Madhusudan and colleagues at University of Nottingham have found that blocking an enzyme, which repairs genetic material in cells, enabled them to kill cancer cells containing faulty genes — in fact, they focused on inherited cancer-causing genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.<br /><br />These two genes cause up to 10 per cent of breast cancers which are more often fatal than non-genetic tumours.<br /><br />In their research, the scientists found that blocking a cell repair enzyme called APE1 with special molecules they had developed stopped two repair routes at once. <br /><br />The discovery enabled them to kill BRCA cells, which normally multiply out of control because they have a faulty “repair kit”, allowing damaged cells to accumulate faults. The molecules were tested on breast, pancreatic and cervical cancer cells, the ‘Daily Express’ reported. <br /><br />“This study provides the first evidence that APE1 is an important new target. Not only could these molecules provide a basis for new drugs but they could help ‘soften up’ cells from many cancer types to boost the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy,” Dr Madhusudan said. <br /><br />Traditional cancer treatments kill affected cells by damaging their DNA, so repair inhibitors based on the new techniques are vital in the battle to wipe them out more effectively. <br /><br />Drugs called PARP inhibitors already use this approach by stopping the PARP protein, which is part of the DNA “emergency repair kit” in a cell. Delyth Morgan, head of the Campaign, said: “This potential new treatment could provide a real lifeline and a better chance of survival, which can only be good news.” <br /></p>
<p>Dr Srinivasan Madhusudan and colleagues at University of Nottingham have found that blocking an enzyme, which repairs genetic material in cells, enabled them to kill cancer cells containing faulty genes — in fact, they focused on inherited cancer-causing genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.<br /><br />These two genes cause up to 10 per cent of breast cancers which are more often fatal than non-genetic tumours.<br /><br />In their research, the scientists found that blocking a cell repair enzyme called APE1 with special molecules they had developed stopped two repair routes at once. <br /><br />The discovery enabled them to kill BRCA cells, which normally multiply out of control because they have a faulty “repair kit”, allowing damaged cells to accumulate faults. The molecules were tested on breast, pancreatic and cervical cancer cells, the ‘Daily Express’ reported. <br /><br />“This study provides the first evidence that APE1 is an important new target. Not only could these molecules provide a basis for new drugs but they could help ‘soften up’ cells from many cancer types to boost the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy,” Dr Madhusudan said. <br /><br />Traditional cancer treatments kill affected cells by damaging their DNA, so repair inhibitors based on the new techniques are vital in the battle to wipe them out more effectively. <br /><br />Drugs called PARP inhibitors already use this approach by stopping the PARP protein, which is part of the DNA “emergency repair kit” in a cell. Delyth Morgan, head of the Campaign, said: “This potential new treatment could provide a real lifeline and a better chance of survival, which can only be good news.” <br /></p>