Case Western Reserve researchers have identified a two-pronged therapeutic approach that shows great potential for weakening and then defeating cancer cells. The team’s complex mix of genetic and biochemical experiments unearthed a way to increase the presence of a tumour-suppressing protein which, in turn, gives it the strength to direct cancer cells toward a path that leads to their destruction. An all-important genetic repair pathway has also been identified.
If the laboratory findings are supported by tests in animal models, the breakthrough could hold the promise of increasing the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy in shrinking or even eliminating tumors. The key is to build up a good protein, p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1), so that it weakens the cancer cells, leaving them more susceptible to existing cancer-fighting measures. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The team state that the discovery one day could lead to a gene therapy where extra amounts of 53BP1 will be generated to make cancer cells more vulnerable to cancer treatment. Alternatively, the group say that they could design molecules to increase levels of 53BP1 in cancers with the same cancer-killing end result.
The cornerstone of the research involves DNA repair, more specifically, double-stand DNA repair. DNA damage is the consequence of an irregular change in the chemical structure of DNA, which in turn damages and even kills cells. The most lethal irregularity to DNA is the DNA double-strand break in the chromosome. DNA double-strand breaks are caused by everything from reactive oxygen components occurring with everyday bodily metabolism to more damaging assaults such as radiation or chemical agents.
The body operates two repair shops, or pathways, to fix these double strand breaks. One provides rapid, but incomplete repair, namely gluing the DNA strand ends back together. The problem with the glue method is that it leaves the DNA strands unable to transmit enough information for the cell to function properly, leading to a high cell fatality rate.
The second shop, or pathway, uses information from intact, undamaged DNA to instruct damaged cells on how to mend broken double strands. During the current study the researchers discovered a previously unidentified function of a known gene, UbcH7, in regulating DNA double-strand break repair. Specifically, they found that depleting UbcH7 led to a dramatic increase in the level of the 53BP1 protein.
What the team propose is increasing the level of 53BP1 to force cancer cells into the error-prone pathway where they will die. The idea is to suppress deliberately the second accurate repair pathway where cancer cells would prefer to go. It is a strategy that would lead to enhanced effectiveness of cancer therapy drugs.
The next research step for the team will be to test their theory in animal models with cancer. The team will investigate the effects of introducing the protein 53BP1 in lab mice with cancer and then applying chemotherapy and radiotherapy as treatment.
The team summise that each cell in the human body already contains these UbcH7 proteins that regulate 53BP1. In patients with cancer, the group simply want to induce more of 53BP1 proteins within their bodies to make their cancer cells vulnerable to radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs.
Source: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
stably infected with shRNAs targeting Ub genes. (B) Summary of effects of knockdown of E2s and known E3s on Chk1 phosphorylation. The protein band
intensities of the phospho-Chk1 and total Chk1 blots in A were analyzed by the ImageJ software and the relative intensity of phospho-Chk1 was normalized to
that of the total Chk1 in the corresponding sample. Using UbcH7 as a reference, the inhibition in Chk1 phosphorylation by different Ub shRNAs was categorized as no effect (−), weak (+), moderate (++), or strong (+++). UbcH7 regulates 53BP1 stability and DSB repair. Zhang et al 2014.
