HealthThe Irish TimesIrish researchers discover how cancers evade chemotherapy by entering ‘zombie-like state’
Irish scientists have worked out how some cancer cells dodge chemotherapy by entering a zombie-like dormant state, and they have identified new drugs that could target this weakness.
Findings by scientists at Trinity College Dublin offer hope for improved treatment options in future
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin discovered how cancerous tumours evade chemotherapy by entering premature senescence, a zombie-like state where cells stop dividing but do not die.
The team found molecules called Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins allow tumours to trick the immune system into helping them recover rather than killing them, the study found.
The research, published in the journal Science, also identified IAP antagonist drugs as a promising new treatment avenue that could improve survival rates for patients.
The researchers identified IAP antagonists as promising new drugs that could kill these dormant tumour cells, so ask your oncologist whether this research is relevant to your treatment.
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