Leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer and other types of solid cancers are found to have high levels of the protease HtrA2, which can "clean" cells of the oncogene, WT1. WT1 is a tumor protein (identified by the gene name WT1), which mutates cells that usually suppress tumors. Discovering enzymes to suppress WT1 could be the next wave in cancer treatment.
Dr Hartkamp, at the University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences, stated "The cancer causing role of WT1 has been known for many years, but how it worked was not understood so we studied a regulatory domain of WT1 to see what modified its activity. We carried out a fishing experiment and discovered the role of the protease HtrA2 instead, by accident. This discovery has a much bigger impact. "
The research will allow drug designers to develop treatments for these types of cancers in which WT1 expression is elevated. A study released this week revealed that lung cancer is now the second leading type of cancer in Welsh Men and Women. Researchers are pointing to smoking as the main factor, but WT1 treatment could have a big impact on the rising number of cancer patients.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men in the U.S. and is another type of cancer associated with WT1. New research revealed that prostate cancer treatment is causing heart risks in men who receive hormone therapy. Therefore, any alternative type of treatment arising from the above study could help lower the heart risks associated with today's current types of medicine.
Written by Amy Munday
Huliq.com
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