New research shines a light on fighting a difficult type of breast cancer, known as triple-negative breast cancer, by focusing on an enzyme that protects these cancer cells. This discovery opens up possibilities for treatments that are not only effective but that may also be gentler on the body.
- Research identifies the enzyme NUDT5 as a key factor in triple-negative breast cancer growth, opening doors to targeted therapies.
- Slowing down cancer growth by blocking NUDT5 could offer a safer treatment method, aiming to reduce side effects.
- This breakthrough study lays the foundation for creating drugs that target NUDT5, aiming to make a real difference for people and their families facing limited treatment choices.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a challenging form of cancer to treat, mainly because it doesn’t respond to the usual hormone therapies that are helpful for other types of breast cancer. This has made finding effective treatments difficult. However, a recent study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research focused on uncovering the role of NUDT5 in TNBC and how it might be a key to developing better treatments.
An Effective Treatment for TNBC Could Be on the Horizon
NUDT5 plays a big part in how TNBC cells grow by protecting them against damage to their DNA, which otherwise would slow or stop the cancer from growing. The research shows that when NUDT5 is blocked in TNBC cells, it leads to more DNA damage in the cells, making it harder for them to grow and multiply. By understanding NUDT5’s role, researchers have found a new approach to tackle TNBC that could help control the cancer’s growth more effectively than current treatments.
Blocking NUDT5 May Offer a Safer Solution
Blocking NUDT5 targets the cancer cells specifically, which is different from many traditional cancer treatments that can harm healthy cells as well. This offers a strategic way to fight TNBC by affecting the cancer’s growth with potentially less harm to the body.
Moving Forward With NUDT5 Inhibitors
This study’s findings bring scientists a step closer to developing new drugs that specifically target NUDT5 and providing doctors and patients with a new tool to fight TNBC.
Source:
Qian, J., Ma, Y., Tahaney, W. M., Moyer, C. L., Lanier, A., Hill, J., Coleman, D., Koupaei, N., Hilsenbeck, S. G., Savage, M. I., Page, B. D. G., Mazumdar, A., & Brown, P. H. (2024). The novel phosphatase NUDT5 is a critical regulator of triple-negative breast cancer growth. Breast Cancer Research, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-024-01778-w
