Drug resistance in breast cancer caused by the action of the protein
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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As a result of the fact that cancer cells become resistant to drugs, hundreds of people die every year. However, the new discovery of Susan Lindqvist can dramatically change the situation. Her research team in the course of experiments revealed a protein that promotes the development of resistance to breast cancer hormone therapy. This is the so-called heat shock protein, which has been talked about for a long time in the circles of scientists. For example, it is known that this protein HSP90 reduces the effectiveness of drugs against the fungus and is involved in the development of the resistance of fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans to drugs.
In this case, if in combination with the drug antifungal therapy to use drugs that suppress the work of protein HSP90, the effect of treatment will be much higher.
Now Susan Lindquist's group talks about the ability of the protein to influence the process of treating cancerous tumors. Specialists have conducted several studies on laboratory animals and cell cultures. As a result, it was possible to establish that even small doses of substances inhibiting the work of HSP90, allow to resist the development of resistance of the cancer to hormonal treatment.
After the experiments, the specialists proposed a combination of protein inhibitors and hormonal drugs for the most effective treatment of cancer tumors.
Now, experts are preparing for clinical trials using the fulvestrant hormone drug and the genestepepe protein inhibitor.
Breast cancer is the most common type of oncology among women. In the research laboratory of the University of Washington, a group of scientists developed a vaccine against cancer, which will help to resist breast cancer. As experts note, the vaccine is safe for metastasis. The drug activates white blood cells and causes them to destroy cancer cells, which ultimately stops the development of the cancer process.
The work of the new drug is based on the destruction of the protein mammaglobin-a, which breast tissue affected by cancer cells, produce in huge quantities, while in healthy tissues of other parts of the body this protein is absolutely not.
Due to vaccination, immune cells begin to affect only those cells where the concentration of this protein reaches high levels. As a result, the drug acts selectively and has fewer adverse reactions.
It should be noted that the vaccine is effective only in cases when the cancer process produces a protein mammaglobin-a.
The new drug was tested by experts on 14 volunteers (women who had breast cancer diagnosed with a metastatic form). When tested, the vaccine could provoke adverse reactions, in particular, irritation, rash, and symptoms resembling a cold or flu. In half the cases, the progression of the cancer process was stopped within 12 months after the administration of the drug. At this stage, scientists are planning trials involving more people and volunteers with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
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