New Cancer Therapy from Indian Scientists Target Patients Resistant to Current Treatments - Video

Scientists at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have developed a novel therapy that could be a potential precision medicine especially for those resistant to current cancer remedies. The team identified a promising new target for cancer treatment by activating a DNA repair enzyme called TDP1, suggesting a combination therapy. To find an alternative treatment, the team probed how cancer cells repair DNA during cell division and respond to chemotherapy that targets the enzyme Top1, often leading to drug resistance.

The research published in The EMBO Journal highlights two key proteins --- Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1). The study showed that cancer cells can counteract the effect of existing drugs by activating TDP1 -- a DNA repair enzyme -- allowing them to survive, said the team led by Benu Brata Das from the varsity. "By targeting both Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1, we can potentially overcome resistance and improve treatment effectiveness," Das said.

The study suggests that using CDK1 inhibitors -- such as avotaciclib, alvocidib, roniciclib, riviciclib, and dinaciclib -- alongside Top1 inhibitors could enhance cancer cell killing. The study points to a promising avenue for precision medicine in treating cancers, especially those resistant to current therapies.