Researchers Developed Promising APR-246 Anti-Cancer Drug

A study^[1] published online on June 27, 2015 in the Gut journal by University of Melbourne researchers indicated they have developed the APR-246 drug that appears to be a game changer not only with oesophagus cancer, but also with other cancers ass well.

The researched showed the p53 protein in oesophagus cancer cells become mutated, which allows the cancer to thrive. The p53 protein has been called the “guardian of the genome” because it regulates the production of human body cells.

Once the p53 has been mutated the cells lose their ability to regulate tumor cell activity. The p53 protein makes sure cells replicate their DNA properly, and in the case of cancer cells this doesn’t happen.

Normally p53 will terminate a cell when it becomes damaged beyond repair, and the researchers in the study have developed a drug that has shown the ability to repair the mutated p53 so it can the job it was intended to do.

Researcher professor Phillips said that people with oesophageal and ovarian cancers have the highest rates of the mutated p53 protein. Though the drug looks promising in treating these cancers, other cancers also contain the mutated p53 protein so the APR-246 drug has positive implications in treating a wide variety of cancers.

The research is really promising for cancer survivors who have oesophageal cancer. Phillips said:

There had been no significant advancements in oesophageal cancer treatment in 30 years.

Tags: anti-cancer, cancer awareness, cancer killer