Scientists Use Par-4 Gene to Breed Cancer-Fighting Mice
Mice in possession of a certain gene which seems to offer them protection against cancer may be vital to the development of safer and better-performing human treatments for the disease.
The situation was described in the Cancer Research journal, which explained how tumours did not appear in mice bred with a higher-performing “Par-4” gene.
According to researchers at the University of Kentucky, a treatment for cancer in humans could be possible.
Cancer Research UK, meanwhile, urged for additional research to substantiate that the phenomenon was not restricted to mice.
Par-4 Gene Thought to Aid Body’s Damaged Cell Disposal Process
Par-4 is understood to play a part in “programme cell death”, the physiological process through which damaged or malfunctioning cells are identified and obliterated.
Mice Bred With Par-4 Gene Did Not Develop Cancers and Lived Longer
The Kentucky researchers employed an existing breed of mouse, associated with heightened susceptibility to cancer development, in order to assess if “Par-4” was capable of taking the disease on. It was subsequently seen that not only did cancers not develop in those with the gene, but they also lived marginally longer than mice without it.
The research team was headed by Dr Vivek Rangnekar, who highlighted how the gene potentially offered a means of eradicating cancer cells while still protecting unaffected cells.
"When a cancer patient goes to the clinic, they undergo chemotherapy or radiation and there are potential side effects associated with these treatments”, he said.
"We are thinking of this as a holistic approach that not only would get rid of the tumour, but not harm the organism as a whole."
More Research Needed Before Human Cancer Treatment Launched
The Doctor asserted, however, that additional research was compulsory prior to the launch of a treatment for humans.
A Cancer Research UK spokesman stated: "Although at an early stage, research like this allows us to understand more about the faulty genes involved in cancer and throws open new avenues to explore for cancer treatment. It's important to remember that this work has only been done using genetically engineered mice, and more research is needed before we'll know if it can be translated to humans."
Source – Pharmaceutical International’s Research and Development Analyst
Recent related News Items:
