A new cancer study may lead to more effective treatments

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.November 15, 2020

For decades, scientists and doctors have been looking for a cure for cancer. Now, researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have taken a significant step forward with a new concept that could eventually lead to more effective treatments.

Research so far has focused on identifying and targeting genes that directly cause cancer called ‘driver genes’. However, non-driver genes can also enlist other genes to assist them in helping cancer cells proliferate.

These little-known additional genes are called “onco-requisite factors” by the research group led by CSI Singapore associate professor Takaomi Sanda. The researchers demonstrate, with a leukemia case study, why it is important to understand these genes.

In leukemia and other cancers, there is a gene that does not directly cause cancer, but is abnormally active in cancer cells. It produces an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase enlists other enzymes to turbo-charge cancer cells with energy for growth and proliferation. Best of all, it also helps reduce wear and tear on these turbo cells by removing the toxic byproducts of power generation. Otherwise, the cancer cells would end up killing themselves.

Although it is possible to cure cancer by depriving cells of aldehyde dehydrogenase, more research is needed.

Cancer is not a disease of an instrument, it is an orchestra. The performance depends not only on the soloist, but on every single instrument involved. This broadens our understanding of cancer and possible ways to stop its mechanisms “,

Takaomi Sanda, Associate professor, Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore

The NUS researchers are now examining which stage of cancer involves aldehyde dehydrogenase, as this would determine whether it can be used to prevent cancer or to kill already formed cancer cells.

Ms. Zhang Chujing, a NUS PhD student who worked on the project with Assoc. Prof Sanda hopes that other researchers will pick up on their idea of ​​onco-requisite factors.

“This concept invites us to focus on the roles of other genes, which are not in the driving seat of cancer formation but may hold the same power in terms of cancer treatment,” he said.

The paper on this work was first published in the journal Haematological earlier this year, and was selected as one of the most recent abstracts at the prestigious annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Additionally, the NUS team presented the findings at the Frontiers in Cancer Science conference on November 4, 2020.