Scientists have found the Achilles’ fifth gene MYC (myc proto-oncogene), which is one of the biggest problems in cancer treatment. This gene is responsible for supporting the growth and development of other cancer-causing genes and does not respond to any treatment.
A new study showing how MYC can be stopped from doing its job has been published in the journal Nature. Scientists often refer to MYC as the “Everest” of cancer due to their inability to fight it.
“It is known to be responsible for the regulation of cancer genes in 70% of cases. Therefore, it is an important target for the fight against cancer,” said Matthew Disney, a researcher from the Health Cancer Center at the University of Florida.
Disney and his team have discovered compounds that could be used in the future to create drugs that block the MYC gene. They also believe that their research will help fight other genes that accelerate the growth of human cancers, such as JUN and MIR155.
The researchers explain that MYC is a transcription factor protein that directly supports cancer stem cells in the body, which act as “seeds for cancer.” Therefore, it is impossible to influence MYC at the protein level.
However, the study found that the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding MYC forms structures that scientists can influence. The researchers were able to discover a total of 2,000 new RNA structures and six chemical structures that can bind to MYC mRNA. The same structures are most likely to be effective against the JUN and MIR155 genes as well.
To influence RNA, scientists propose using a low-molecular drug, as well as the latest compounds that will destroy mRNA.
According to Interesting Engineering, the researchers believe the new treatment could bring new hope to people with cancer.
Disney and his team have been working on SNK structures for the past 15 years and have protested some of their work in mice before. Then they managed to eliminate cancerous tumors.
It has also been shown to be effective against other diseases such as myotonic dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
However, Disney notes that the compounds developed by his team are only “starter probes, not drugs.”
“We have a lot of work to do to improve these compounds for use in mice and humans,” the scientist said.
Previously, GLOBAL HAPPENINGS also talked about the fact that scientists have created “nanomachines” that can kill cancer cells without chemotherapy.
Source: Obozrevatel
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