X-Message-Number: 25585
From: "The NanoAging Institute" <>
Subject: Combo Treatment Slows Cancer Cell Growth
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 06:59:52 -0500

Combo Treatment Slows Cancer Cell Growth


MONDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDayNews) -- A combination therapy that boosts the 
effectiveness of a promising cancer treatment designed to block cancer cells 
from continuously dividing is outlined in a Japanese study in the January issue 
of Cancer Cell.


This combination therapy seems to improve the action of a treatment that targets
telomeres in cancer cells.


Telomeres are DNA sequences that play a crucial role in controlling the life 
spans of cells. Telomeres grow shorter each time a cell divides. Eventually, 
telomeres grow so short that they cause cell division to stop.


Cancer cells produce an enzyme called telomerase that prevents telomeres from 
getting short enough to stop cell division.


Healthy cells do not use telomerase, which has been identified as a target for 
anticancer drugs.


This study examined what happened to cancer cells when telomerase-inhibiting 
treatment was combined with inhibition of an enzyme called tankyrase 1, which 
helps make telomeres accessible to telomerase. The study found that inhibition 
of tankyrase 1 boosted telomerase inhibition therapy, resulting in enhanced 
telomere shortening and accelerated cancer cell death.


"This study provides insight into strategies for telomere-based molecular cancer
therapeutics. We expect that inhibition of tankyrase 1 will compensate for 
incomplete inhibition of telomerase. Consequently, this strategy would shorten 
the time period of drug treatment that is required for the onset of telomere 
crisis and reduce the potential risk of acquired drug resistance," the study 
authors wrote. 



http://www.nanoaging.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=867&mode=&order=0&thold=0

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