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A rare cancer tied to past industrial work has long left patients with few options and little time. Mesothelioma, most often caused by asbestos exposure, develops slowly and strikes decades later. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced. Survival averages about one year, and long-term outcomes remain poor.
Now, new research by the University of Vermont offers a different approach. Instead of protecting cells from damage, scientists are turning cancer’s own survival system against it. Early clinical results suggest the strategy may slow disease and extend lives.
A Disease With Few Options
Mesothelioma affects about 30,000 people worldwide each year. Many patients worked in shipbuilding, oil refining, or construction, where asbestos exposure was common.
Current treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, provide limited benefit. Most patients face a median survival of around 12 months. The five-year survival rate is near 10 percent.
“It’s a disease of a significant unmet medical need,” said Brian Cunniff, a professor at the University of Vermont.
Researchers have spent years searching for better treatments. Many past efforts focused on reducing harmful molecules inside cancer cells. This new study takes the opposite approach.
Turning A Survival Mechanism Into A Weakness
Cancer cells grow quickly and consume large amounts of energy. This process produces unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules can damage cells if they build up.
To survive, tumor cells increase their defenses. They produce antioxidant enzymes that neutralize these harmful compounds. One key enzyme is called peroxiredoxin 3, or PRX3.
PRX3 works inside mitochondria, the parts of cells that produce energy. It removes hydrogen peroxide, a damaging molecule that forms during metabolism.
Scientists realized that mesothelioma cells depend heavily on this system. Without it, the cells could be overwhelmed by their own stress.
The idea was simple but bold. Instead of reducing oxidative stress, increase it. Block PRX3 and allow harmful molecules to accumulate. Push the cancer cells past their limit.
Lab Results Show Strong Effects
To test this idea, researchers removed PRX3 from mesothelioma cells in the laboratory. The results were immediate.
Cells without PRX3 grew more slowly. Their ability to multiply dropped sharply. Energy production declined, and oxidative stress increased.
In animal studies, the effect was even more dramatic. When these altered cells were introduced into mice, they failed to form tumors.
The findings showed that PRX3 is not just helpful for cancer cells. It may be essential for their survival.
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A new therapy targets cancer’s stress defenses, showing promise in early trials for mesothelioma patients with limited treatment options. (CREDIT: Shutterstock)
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