The frame: the film “Chimera”
Researchers from the medical Institute Howard Hughes developed a method of treating cancer that involves blocking the activity of mTOR protein using the chimeric molecules consisting of two different medications. mTOR is known that enhances the growth of malignant tumors. The article was published in the journal Nature.
mTOR, known as the bacterial toxin target of rapamycin, plays a Central role in the control of cell growth. He is involved in the development of cancer, and several therapeutic methods aimed at suppressing the function of the protein. One such medication is rapalo, which showed effectiveness in the fight against kidney cancer and breast cancer. However, after a few months or years of effective treatment of the tumor often become immune to realogy.
To solve this problem, scientists decided to create a new generation of drugs, which take into account the mechanism of drug resistance of the tumor. To do this, the researchers studied mutations that arise in cell culture, isolated from breast tumors. To the surprise of scientists, some mutations were present even before treatment of cells with rapamycin. The proportion of cells with this mutation accounted for 10 percent.
New inhibitors that might circumvent resistance of cancer, was created from two already existing inhibitors of the first and second generation. One of the molecules, combined with the second, could compensate for the ineffectiveness of the other inhibitors, if the latter cancer had developed immunity. Double medication was called Rapalink.
Rapalink penetrate inside the cancer cells, is connected with mTOR, inhibiting its catalytic centers and hindering the participation of protein to accelerate the growth of malignant tumors. Experiments on animals showed that the drug really reduces the size of cancerous tumors. Scientists plan to continue clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug as a therapeutic agent.
