A recently published study in OncotarGet magazine found out how a protein called P53 can impact cancer cell growth and cancer treatments resistance. The discovery opens new possibilities for the development of effective therapies against a series of tumors, including colorectal, which represents 10% of all types of cancer worldwide.
At work, researchers at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine studied P53 protein, known as protective protein in the human genetic code.
This protein plays an important role in cancer prevention, interrupting uncontrolled cell growth. However, many cancers are changed or suppress the action of P53, allowing tumors to develop or resist treatment.
In the study, researchers restored the function of P53 protein in colorectal cancer cells, which led to slower cell growth, increased cell aging (senescence) and greater radiotherapy sensitivity. These findings suggest that P53 protein status influences cancer progression and treatment response, making it a promising target for new therapies.
For Pedro Morgan, an cancer image radiologist at CDPI, resistance to treatment is one of the biggest challenges in the fight against cancer. Research suggests that by restoring or activating the function of P53 in tumor cells, it would be possible not only to slow tumor growth, but also to make cells more vulnerable to traditional methods such as radiotherapy.
“This study offers a new perspective on cancer treatment, highlighting the role of P53 in carcinoma regulation and how its restoration can improve the results of therapies, especially when tumors have already gained resistance. And when associating this genomic evolution with image exams, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, to follow up the therapeutic response of the colorectal tumor, we can even observe the response from the response Molecular cells, allowing for therapeutic customization, ”says Morgan.
The work also examined the Htert-RPE1 cells, a type of non-cancerous human cell used in research. When the TP53 gene was broken into these cells, they grew faster and became more resistant to radiation, reinforcing the idea that P53 protein helps prevent cancer growth.
The study also identified two new P53 -regulated genes that may be important for new treatments. The first, AldH3A1, helps detoxify harmful substances and may affect the resistance of cancer cells to oxidative stress. The second, nectin4, is a protein found in many aggressive cases, including bladder and breast.
“With results such as these, it is possible to indicate treatments and medicines more adapted to the genetic and molecular characteristics of each tumor. Understanding how different tumors act in P53 and other cells, we can create more effective therapeutic approaches, minimizing collateral effects and improving the quality of life of patients,” says Gustavo Guida, Geneticist of the laboratory Sérgio Franco.
This content was originally published in a new study finds out how protein affects cancer cell growth on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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