Australian scientists have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that reveals the secret of how cancer cells manage to repair their DNA and become invincible to standard treatment. This is reported in an article published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
An important role in the defense mechanism is played by the actin protein, which creates filamentous components of the cell cytoskeleton, called microfilaments. Researchers have found that actin has another function, controlling the processes inside the nucleus, where the genetic material is stored.
In cancer cells, the replication (copying) of DNA during cell division is prone to malfunction, and scientists are exploiting this vulnerability by targeting chemotherapy drugs that disrupt the division process. However, in a new work, the researchers found that actin filaments change the shape of the nucleus, enhancing the process of DNA repair and restarting the replication process. This makes cancer cells immune to drugs.
Damaged DNA slides along the microfilaments and enters the area of the nucleus where the repair process is most efficient. Drugs that target this mechanism can kill cancer cells that are already having difficulty replicating. They will also make chemotherapy more effective.