A switch to turn off cancer of testis and ovary
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LONDON: Researchers from Cambridge have discovered a molecular "switch" that can turn off a highly virulent cancer of the testis and the ovary.
The scientists found that all malignant germ cell tumours, like the
type which typically occurs in the testes and ovaries, contain large
amounts of a protein called LIN28.
This results in too little of a family of tiny regulator molecules called let-7 .
In turn, low levels of let-7 cause too much of cancerpromoting proteins in cells. The cancer-promoting proteins include LIN28 itself, so there is a vicious cycle that acts as an "on" switch to promote malignancy.
The researchers have likened these changes to a "cascade effect" , extending down from the large amounts of LIN28 to affect many properties of the cancer cells. They also discovered that by reducing the amount of LIN28 or by directly increasing the amount of let-7 , it is possible to reverse the vicious cycle.
Both ways reduced levels of the cancer-promoting proteins and inhibited cell growth. Because the level of LIN28 itself goes down, the effects are reinforced and act as an "off " switch to reduce cancerous behaviour.
Cambridge scientists therefore identified the "on/ off " switch and have published their findings in the journal Cancer Research. Malignant germ cell tumours arise in sperms — or egg-forming cells and usually occur in the reproductive organs, the testes or ovaries.
The cancerous tumours are seen in patients of all ages , both in childhood and adulthood. Although many patients do well after treatment , chemotherapy can have severe long-term side effects , including hearing loss and damage to the kidneys.
This results in too little of a family of tiny regulator molecules called let-7 .
In turn, low levels of let-7 cause too much of cancerpromoting proteins in cells. The cancer-promoting proteins include LIN28 itself, so there is a vicious cycle that acts as an "on" switch to promote malignancy.
The researchers have likened these changes to a "cascade effect" , extending down from the large amounts of LIN28 to affect many properties of the cancer cells. They also discovered that by reducing the amount of LIN28 or by directly increasing the amount of let-7 , it is possible to reverse the vicious cycle.
Both ways reduced levels of the cancer-promoting proteins and inhibited cell growth. Because the level of LIN28 itself goes down, the effects are reinforced and act as an "off " switch to reduce cancerous behaviour.
Cambridge scientists therefore identified the "on/ off " switch and have published their findings in the journal Cancer Research. Malignant germ cell tumours arise in sperms — or egg-forming cells and usually occur in the reproductive organs, the testes or ovaries.
The cancerous tumours are seen in patients of all ages , both in childhood and adulthood. Although many patients do well after treatment , chemotherapy can have severe long-term side effects , including hearing loss and damage to the kidneys.
