Researchers at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University have managed to prevent cancer cells from repairing damage caused by radio and chemotherapy. When cancer cells are damaged by such treatments their RNA produces a number of repair proteins. Dr Theodore DeWeese and colleagues managed to reduce cancer cell's production of these repair proteins by roughly 90% by genetically altering their RNA, thus rendering the cells incapable of repairing damage.
Researchers at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University have managed to prevent cancer cells from repairing damage caused by radio and chemotherapy. When cancer cells are damaged by such treatments their RNA produces a number of repair proteins. Dr Theodore DeWeese and colleagues managed to reduce cancer cell’s production of these repair proteins by roughly 90% by genetically altering their RNA, thus rendering the cells incapable of repairing damage. The strategy also means that a lower dose of radiation is needed to kill off the cells.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 20th October 2003.
