New findings about chemotherapy at the molecular level

IS TODAY'S CANCER TREATMENT EFFECTIVE?

Scientists at MIT Have Identified 48 Specific Genes That May Explain Why

A new finding from MIT researchers has shown that not all cells react in the same way when exposed to DNA damaging compounds. This finding could help in the treatment of cancer by providing specific knowledge of which patients would find the chemotherapy treatment effective.

In an online published report in the journal, Genes and Development, MIT scientific researchers identify 48 human genes that seem to predict how a patient will react to DNA killing compounds found in chemotherapy like MNNG, a commonly used chemotherapy agent. By using cells from healthy people researchers were able to identify differences in susceptibility to MNNG.

"A cell line from one person would be killed dramatically, while that from another person was resistant to exposure," said Rebecca Fry, former MIT research scientist and lead author of the paper. "It wasn't known that cell lines from different people could have such dramatic differences in responses."

Each individual's genes have slight variations so when they are exposed to DNA damaging treatments they will respond differently. Knowing the response of these genes may help identify which patient will benefit from chemotherapy treatment.

"Even if everyone is exposed to exactly the same things, they would respond differently, because we're all genetically different," said Leona Samson, senior author of the paper, director of CEHS, and an American Cancer Society Research Professor.

The accuracy of these predictions is an astounding 94% causing researchers to begin additional studies on other agents such as cisplatin and temozolomide, which is used in the treatment of brain cancer.

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