Researchers at Tel Aviv University have uncovered a mechanism that triggers the self-destruction of cancer cells, particularly those that multiply rapidly during cell division. Led by Prof. Malka Cohen-Armon from the Sackler School of Medicine, the study identifies the role of three specific proteins that can be modified to activate a natural “death mechanism” within cancer cells.
This discovery is significant, especially for aggressive cancers like pancreatic cancer, which currently lack effective treatments. The researchers found that compounds known as Phenanthridine derivatives can disrupt the stability of the spindle structure necessary for chromosome segregation during mitosis. When these proteins are altered, cancer cells are unable to divide properly, leading to their rapid self-destruction.
Prof. Cohen-Armon expressed excitement over the potential of this mechanism to selectively eliminate cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Experiments showed that this approach could be effective against a variety of aggressive cancer types, including breast, lung, and colon cancers.
The research team, which included collaborators from Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center, utilized advanced imaging and molecular biology techniques to observe the process in both cell cultures and mice with human cancer cell transplants. Their findings could pave the way for new drug developments aimed at targeting this mechanism, offering hope for patients with tumors resistant to conventional therapies
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