Researchers have identified that blocking the enzymes PDIA1 and PDIA5 can destabilize the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells, leading to cell death and tumor shrinkage. Combining inhibitors of these enzymes with existing treatments like enzalutamide enhances effectiveness, offering a promising new approach to overcoming treatment resistance in prostate cancer. The findings suggest that targeting these enzymes could weaken cancer cells by disrupting both their growth signals and energy production, paving the way for more effective therapies.
Christopher Gregg shares how applying farming resistance management principles and AI-driven algorithms to cancer treatment has helped him live beyond his initial prognosis, advocating for smarter drug use, continuous monitoring, and clinical trials to revolutionize cancer care and overcome drug resistance.
Glioblastoma cells can imitate neurons to evade treatment, but a study using proteomics has identified the kinase BRAF as a potential target. Testing a BRAF inhibitor in mice models showed promise in knocking down treatment-resistant glioblastoma cells, paving the way for precision therapies against glioblastoma and other resistant cancers. The researchers are working on developing a clinical test using AI to identify therapeutic weaknesses in various cancers and plan to conduct a clinical trial testing BRAF inhibitors for glioblastoma.
A study conducted by scientists at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research has revealed that tobacco smoking causes cancer and makes it more difficult to treat by interfering with the body's cancer-fighting proteins. The study found that smoking leads to harmful changes in DNA known as 'stop-gain mutations,' which disrupt the formation of tumor suppressor proteins that prevent abnormal cell growth. The researchers also discovered that the amount of smoking directly correlates with the number of these mutations, making cancer more complex and resistant to treatment. The study highlights the damaging effects of smoking on DNA and emphasizes the importance of quitting smoking to reduce the risk of cancer.
Cerebrospinal fluid, the protective liquid surrounding the brain, may be contributing to the resistance of brain cancers like glioblastoma to standard treatments. Exposure to this fluid causes tumor cells to change and become more resistant to radiation and common medications. However, a decades-old anti-anxiety drug called trifluoperazine shows promise in making these cells more receptive to therapies without harming healthy brain cells. This discovery could lead to the repurposing of trifluoperazine to improve survival rates in glioblastoma patients.
Scientists at the University of Southern California have discovered a new mechanism through which cancer cells spread and resist treatment. The key protein involved is GRP78, which normally aids in protein folding. Under stress, GRP78 migrates to the nucleus and alters cell behavior, controlling gene expression. The researchers found that GRP78 regulates genes involved in cell migration and invasion, including EGFR. Additionally, GRP78 interacts with another protein, ID2, inhibiting its ability to limit gene activity related to cell migration. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to potential strategies for preventing cancer metastasis by targeting GRP78 or blocking ID2.
Therapy-induced APOBEC3A, a protein involved in DNA mutation, drives the evolution of persistent cancer cells and contributes to treatment resistance. Whole-genome and -exome sequencing data on clinical tumor samples and experimental models are available for further analysis. The study highlights the importance of understanding the role of APOBEC3A in cancer evolution and suggests potential therapeutic strategies to target this protein.
Reactivation of the dormant retrovirus HML-2 has been found to contribute to the aggressiveness and treatment resistance of glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. The virus alters stem cell programming through a gene-regulating protein called OCT4, promoting a more aggressive form of cancer. Researchers have identified potential targets for developing more effective treatments, including an anti-retroviral drug that reduced HML-2 activity and tumor stem-cell markers. This discovery provides new insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of glioblastoma and offers a unique therapeutic target for combating this deadly brain cancer.
