Key Leukemia Defense Mechanism Discovered

A team of researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have discovered a mechanism by which leukemia cells resist treatment. Typically histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) work to cause cancer cells to apoptose. It’s been known for a while now though that the effectiveness of HDACIs is reduced because it activates a defense mechanisms that prevent the normal chain that cause them to apoptose through the signaling pathway NF-kB. It used to be thought that this was caused by receptors on the cell surface, but the groups discoveries show that it is caused by a defect induced in DNA by HDACIs that modifies the protein NEMO and subsequently signals the NF-kB pathway. Through preventing the modification of NEMO it is possible to prevent the defense mechanism and dramatically increase the effectiveness of HDACIs.

The group’s goal is to move findings to the bedside quickly and there are already drugs in development that will disrupt the NEMO/NF-kB pathway and will require research about their safety. I’m particularly interested in the development of these drugs and therapies because I have a family history of leukemia; I have an uncle that passed away from it and my gradpa’s leukemia was in remission but is coming back.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100930143351.htm