Researchers in the US have identified a way to improve the effectiveness of the platinum-based anti-cancer drug cisplatin, it emerged yesterday (1st June).

Platinum-based treatments have been shown to damage cells in a number of different cancers but their impact is often limited as the cells are able to repair their DNA.

However, a team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, led by Daqing Li, decided to conduct tests on the MRN protein complex, which has a significant role in the molecular pathways controlling DNA repair.

They operated on the premise that weakening the MRN function - and in particular its RAD50 protein - can sensitise cancer cells to the effects of cisplatin.

The scientists specifically found that human squamous cell carcinoma cells were much less resistant to the drug when it was combined with an adenoviral vector, which then developed a dominant-negative RAD50 in them.

Furthermore, their findings indicated that this combination was effective at tackling the cancer when transplanting human cells both in mice and in vitro.

As a result, there is now a possibility of developing a clinical strategy to weaken MRN function and therefore significantly improving the anti-cancer properties of platinum-based drugs.

Source:

Enhancing the effects of platinum-based anti-cancer drugs (01/06/09)

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