Medicine Approaches a Solution for One of the Most Deadly Cancers Among Women

SadaNews - In what represents a promising hope for treating one of the most aggressive and common types of cancer among young women, a team of researchers has discovered that a relatively unknown molecule in the body could be the key to treating triple-negative breast cancer.

In the study published in the journal "Molecular Cancer Research", researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York began analyzing genetic data from about 11,000 cancer patients, aiming to understand the role of long non-coding RNA molecules, which do not produce proteins, but regulate gene behavior and affect cell growth and differentiation.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The researchers observed during their analysis of breast tumor samples a significant increase in the level of a molecule called (LINC01235) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, a type that does not respond to conventional hormonal therapies and tends to spread rapidly.

Using the "CRISPR" gene-editing technology, the researchers silenced this molecule in cancerous cells and noticed that cell growth slowed down, and their ability to form tumors was significantly weaker compared to cells where the molecule remained active, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail".

Experiments showed that (LINC01235) activates another gene called (NFIB), which helps enhance the risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer.

(NFIB) inhibits the production of a protein known as (p21), which suppresses cell growth, and when this protein is disabled, cancerous cells grow and multiply uncontrollably.

The analysis results indicated that breast tumors expressed (LINC01235) at much higher levels compared to healthy cells. After its silencing, tumor growth significantly slowed down, supporting the hypothesis of its central role in promoting cancer.

Targeted Cancer Therapy

These findings could represent a first step towards utilizing "CRISPR" technology to develop a targeted therapy against triple-negative breast cancer, offering hope to thousands of patients worldwide.

It is noted that triple-negative breast cancer is the most common among young women, especially women of color, and is often diagnosed at advanced stages, making it challenging to treat.

Although survival rates exceed 90% if the disease is detected early, they drop to only 15% in cases where it has spread to lymph nodes or vital organs.