ANI
23 Nov 2022, 17:07 GMT+10
Washington [US], November 23 (ANI): Researchers have discovered a protein that can predict whether or not DNA-damaging treatments will be effective when it is found in high concentrations in breast cancer tumors.
The findings were published in a paper titled 'Alterations in the p53 isoform ratio govern breast cancer cell fate in response to DNA damage' in the Cell DeathDisease journal.
Lead author of the study, HMRI and University of Newcastle PhD researcher Luiza Steffens-Reinhardt, said this work could lead to more effective chemotherapy for people with breast cancer.
"We looked at this particular variant of a protein called p53 because our previous studies have shown that it is present at high levels in breast cancer and is associated with cancer recurrence," she said.
"We were surprised to see that by increasing the levels of this variant of p53, the breast cancer cells became unresponsive to existing therapies. Thus, inhibiting this variant could enhance people's responses to currently used cancer treatments. We recently confirmed these findings in living subjects."Breast cancer affects more than 19,000 women every year in Australia and around one-quarter of these people develop treatment resistance.
"The primary reason women die from breast cancer is treatment resistance," said Ms Steffens-Reinhardt.
"A breast cancer that is resistant to treatment is impossible to cure. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve therapies that target the cells responsible for resisting these therapies."Associate Professor Kelly Avery-Kiejda, who supervises Steffens-Reinhardt on her research, says, this research could be a first step in better targeting breast cancer treatment.
"One in eight women in Australia develop breast cancer and while there is a 92 per cent survival rate, this doesn't take into account secondary cancers or metastasis, which are essentially incurable," said Associate Professor Avery-Kiejda.
"If we can identify biomarkers that predict how well a patient will respond to certain therapies, we can then target the available therapies more effectively." (ANI)Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: Thousands of people are gathering in New Mexico for a big event that celebrates Native American and Indigenous...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: San Francisco is taking steps to change how it handles drug use. After Some people say focusing on quitting...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expand job training for skilled trades this week, shifting focus...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed open to letting fuel companies challenge California's strict vehicle...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration announced this week that it will create a fast-track approval process for energy and mining...
JERUSALEM - More than 80 ambassadors and heads of mission from across the world were addressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...
Protesters gather during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)...
New Delhi [India] April 30 (ANI): Former Indian cricketers and KL Rahul wished Indian captain Rohit Sharma on his 38th birthday. ...
Perth [Australia], April 30 (ANI): After two matches against the Australia A side, the Indian women's hockey team is set to face the...
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): India's 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma, a modern-day white-ball legend, turned 38 on Wednesday. Since making...
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Indian skipper and opener Rohit Sharma turned 38 on Wednesday, marking another year in a career...
The upcoming Australian election will be an illustration of how most Western elections will play out in the near future Australian...