In some cancer cases there is an oncogene called K-Ras that can make the cancer more aggressive than those cancers without the gene. The reason K-Ras is so aggressive is because it is a mutated gene that does not respond to treatment. For years K-Ras has been able to avoid drug treatment, but that may be coming to an end. Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) have found a drug that can disrupt this mutated gene. The researchers at HHMI discovered an unknown pocket in the gene which allows binding to the K-Ras gene and prevents its mutated function but allows the function of normal proteins. With this new discovery there is a chance that some of these aggressive cancers can be stopped, and maybe one day we will be cancer free.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131120133458.htm
That's really interesting. From what I've read, the entire Ras family of proteins are implicated in many cancers. When mutated, they stimulate hyper-proliferation of the cell.
ReplyDeleteWhat do u mean by, it becomes aggressive? Like the rate it spreads becomes faster?
ReplyDeleteI wonder which types of cancer would best benefit from this?
ReplyDeleteDoes the article say which cancers are more prominent to have the K-Ras oncogene or were they talking vaguely about cancers with this oncogene in general?
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