Historically, the p53 protein has been viewed as a key player in initiating cell death when DNA damage becomes irreparable. However, more than half of tumors have p53 dysfunction, raising the question of how chemotherapy remains effective in these cases. Brummelkamp’s team discovered that SLFN11 shuts down ribosomes, the protein factories of cells, in response to DNA damage, leading to cell death.
This pathway bypasses p53, providing a new insight into cancer cell death. The SLFN11 gene is often inactive in tumors that do not respond to chemotherapy; This explains why these cancer cells survive despite treatment.
“In the future, we will examine how this pathway affects cancer treatment, including the side effects of immunotherapy and chemotherapy,” the scientists said.
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Source: Ferra
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