Washington (ISJ) – People suffering from breast and pancreatic cancers can look forward to a wonder cure soon. Scientists have succeeded in identifying a compound which can help fight tumours that are otherwise non-responsive to standard therapies.
Scientists from Florida-based The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) claimed to have identified a compound which prevents the activity of a protein which causes progression of breast and pancreatic cancers.
Named SR1848, the compound reduces the activity of the cancer-related protein called “liver receptor homolog-1” or LRH-1.
“Our study shows that SR1848 removes LRH1 from DNA, shutting down expression of LRH-1 target genes, and halts cell proliferation,” said Patrick Griffin, chair of the TSRI Department of Molecular Therapeutics and director of the Translational Research Institute at Scripps Florida.
“It’s a compound that appears to be a promising chemical scaffold for fighting tumours that are non-responsive to standard therapies,” he added.
LRH1 protein has been identified as the main reason behind breast cancer. It has also been implicated as a tumour promoter in intestinal and pancreatic cancer.
Overexpression of LRH-1 promotes invasiveness and metastasis, worsening the disease.
“LRH-1 has been implicated in the proliferation and metastasis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers and the more difficult to treat estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers,” said Research Associate Alex Corzo.
“This suggests that repressing LRH-1 could be useful in treating the more aggressive triple-negative breast cancer subtype where therapies are currently so limited,” he added.
