Scientists at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have developed a groundbreaking therapy that could become a precision medicine, particularly for patients who do not respond to existing cancer treatments.
Cancer cells often acquire resistance to certain therapies, necessitating the search for alternative treatment options. The IACS team has identified a new target for cancer treatment by activating a DNA repair enzyme called TDP1, which suggests a potential combination therapy.
In their pursuit of alternative therapies, the team investigated how cancer cells repair their DNA during cell division and how they react to chemotherapy targeting the enzyme Top1. Unfortunately, drug resistance often links this enzyme, necessitating the need for more effective treatments.
The EMBO Journal published their research, which concentrates on two crucial proteins: Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) The study reveals that cancer cells can resist the effects of existing drugs by activating TDP1, a DNA repair enzyme, which allows the cells to survive. Benu Brata Das from IACS led a team that made this discovery.
“Our research shows that CDK1 directly influences TDP1, which helps cancer cells repair the DNA damage caused by Top1 inhibitors,” Das explained. “By targeting both CDK1 and TDP1, we may be able to overcome drug resistance and make cancer treatments more effective.”
The study suggests that using CDK1 inhibitors along with Top1 inhibitors could make the killing of cancer cells a lot more effective. These CDK1 inhibitors include avotaciclib, alvocidib, roniciclib, riviciclib, and dinaciclib. This combination therapy works by disrupting the DNA repair processes and halting the cell cycle, making it harder for cancer cells to survive.
“Cancer cells frequently develop resistance when treated with just one type of agent. By combining CDK1 and Top1 inhibitors, we can target and eliminate cancer cells more effectively,” Das said, emphasizing the potential of this dual-targeted therapy.
This research points toward a promising new direction for precision medicine in cancer treatment, especially for cases where conventional therapies fail to deliver results.
