Cancer cells may use death signals to survive and regrow
In short: When drugs target a tumor, most cells die. But some survive by co-opting a mechanism meant to destroy them. Researchers found that these 'persister cells' employ minimal DNA-dismantling enzyme activity to recover, which might provide a novel method for stopping cancer recurrence.
Cancer resistance is a massive hurdle in oncology, contributing to approximately one in six deaths worldwide. While many patients initially respond to therapy, tumors often return when cells acquire resistance. Traditionally, researchers have focused on genetic mutations—changes in DNA that develop over months or years—to explain how cancer evolves to survive drugs, much like bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. This phenomenon presents a significant challenge for medical professionals. Currently, doctors are searching for improved ways to prevent these recurring tumors.
However, researchers at the University of California San Diego have uncovered a different, much earlier mechanism. They found that a subset of surviving cells, known as 'persister cells,' utilize a protein called DNA fragmentation factor B (DFFB). This enzyme is typically active during normal cell death to break down DNA, but in these specific cancer cells, it operates at a sublethal level to actually aid regrowth. The study examined various types of cancer, including lung, breast, and melanoma. This specific protein, DFFB, is usually associated with the process of cell death.
This discovery, led by assistant professor Matthew J. Hangauer and postdoctoral fellow August F. Williams, suggests that resistance can occur through non-genetic means long before permanent mutations appear. By targeting this specific death-signaling enzyme within surviving cells, scientists hope to prevent tumors from relapsing. If successful, this approach could help patients remain in remission for longer periods by stopping the regrowth process before it becomes a permanent genetic fixture. Such non-genetic regrowth occurs far sooner than standard resistance mutations. Inhibiting this enzyme might prevent tumours from recurring.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Have We Discovered a Cure for Cancer... on Accident?
- Also: Scientists uncover the hidden survival trick that lets cancer bounce back
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