"Researchers create first molecule able to block key component of cancer genes' on-off switch"

A group of researchers created a molecule called JQ1 that blocks an abnormal protein seen in a form of cancer known as NUT midline carcinoma (NMC). NMC is a rare, normally fatal cancer that affects children and young adults. It is caused when two genes from different chromosomes attach to each other and cause the cell to create an abnormal protein called BRD4-NUT. The molecule JQ1 that was created acts as an inhibitor for a reader protein of the BRD4-NUT gene. The researchers successfully tested JQ1 by transplanting NMC cells into mice and then giving some of the mice the JQ1 molecule. The mice that received the NMC cells and the JQ1 molecule survived while the mice that were only given the NMC cells died.

I found this article interesting because I am very interested in cancer research. Cancer is a leading cause of death throughout the world and research like this gets us one step closer to having a cure.

http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/press/2010/researchers-create-first-molecule-able-to-block-key-component-of-cancer-genes-on-off-switch.html