Cancer treatment can now be improved by identifying DNA repair genes as per a study at the University of Birmingham, published in the journal Molecular Cell.
Repairing damage to DNA is vital for cells to remain healthy, and to prevent diseases like cancer from developing. The study uncover a new way in which cancer cells can repair DNA damage, which may further help clinicians decide on different targeted cancer treatments for patients.
‘New study sheds light on DNA repair genes by cancer cells, how cancer cells react to treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), and the ways by which cancer can become resistant to targeted treatments.’
DNA Repair in Cancer
The team specifically pinpointed two previously unidentified proteins in the DNA repair process SETD1A and BOD1L, that help in modifying other DNA-bound proteins (called histones).
It was found that removing these two proteins changes how DNA is repaired, and makes cancer cells more sensitive to radiotherapy. Moreover, the loss of SETD1A and BOD1L makes cancer cells resistant to certain anti-cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors.
“This is the first time that these genes have been directly linked to DNA repair in cancer. This research has the potential to change how cancer patients are identified for treatment and also how they become resistant to different drugs, which will improve treatment efficiency as well as patient outcomes,” says lead author Martin Higgs.
Source: Medindia
