Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Researchers at Tata Memorial Centre-ACTREC identified a vulnerability in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which accounts for about 31% of breast cancer cases in India.
• The study found that some cancer cells reprogram themselves to survive chemotherapy, entering a temporary dormant state and becoming drug-resistant.
• Researchers discovered that molecules GPX4 and FSP1 make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy.
• Blocking FSP1 can make the cells sensitive to treatment again, and a therapy blocking both GPX4 and FSP1 can kill the cancer cells.

Detailed Insights:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making it difficult to treat with traditional targeted therapies.
• Nearly half of patients with residual TNBC experience a rapid relapse within two to five years, with the resistant tumor cells spreading to other organs.
• The study focused on Drug-Tolerant Persisters (DTPs) to identify vulnerabilities during their dormant state.
• Researchers mapped the molecular changes that allow the identification of these persistent cells, helping to understand how they survive chemotherapy and become more aggressive.
• By targeting the shield of FSP1, researchers demonstrated how to change the status of cancer cells from chemo-resistant to chemo-sensitive.
• A stronger therapy that blocks both GPX4 and FSP1 can kill the tough cancer cells by damaging their membranes.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): A type of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors.
• Drug-Tolerant Persisters (DTPs): Residual cancer cells that enter a dormant state to survive drug attacks.
• GPX4 and FSP1: Molecules that make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy.