Targeting OTUD6B: A New Hope for Treating Aggressive Breast Cancer
New research suggests that targeting a protein called OTUD6B could be key to stopping the growth, division, and spread of aggressive breast cancer cells.
How Cancer Cells Survive and Spread.
During cell division, cells are reliant on structures called centrosomes to help organize the process. Cancer cells often have extra centrosomes, which can lead to errors during cell division and rapid, uncontrolled growth. To address this, cancer cells are able to cluster their extra centrosomes together, minimizing the damage and enabling their survival. This clustering process is dependent on a protein called KIFC1, and scientists have been working to find ways to target this weakness.
Professor Judy Coulson and her team at the University of Liverpool have explored the role of another protein, OTUD6B. They discovered that cancer cells need OTUD6B to produce KIFC1, suggesting that OTUD6B could be a promising target for future cancer treatments.
What makes OTUD6B important in breast cancer.
Professor Coulson’s team focused on triple-negative breast cancer cells, which are particularly aggressive and harder to treat. Through their research, they found that OTUD6B plays a crucial role in regulating KIFC1 and organizing centrosome clustering. OTUD6B helps maintain high levels of KIFC1, stabilizing the protein and aiding in the organization of extra centrosomes.
When the researchers reduced OTUD6B levels in the cancer cells, they observed that triple-negative breast cancer cells with extra centrosomes struggled to divide properly and eventually died, while normal breast cells remained unaffected. This highlighted OTUD6B as a potential target for therapies aimed at treating cancer without damaging healthy cells.
Linking OTUD6B to Poorer Outcomes.
The researchers also analysed over 9,000 breast cancer tumour samples and found that OTUD6B is often more active in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative cases. Higher levels of OTUD6B were linked to poorer long-term outcomes, underscoring its importance in cancer progression.
A Promising Future for Treatment.
Looking ahead, Professor Coulson and her team hope that by targeting OTUD6B, they can develop new treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. By preventing cancer cells from clustering their extra centrosomes, they believe they can cause the cancer cells to die without harming healthy cells.
This discovery brings hope to the thousands of women diagnosed annually with triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease for which there are currently limited targeted treatments. Over 8,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer each year, making this research even more crucial.
This study was published in EMBO Reports and was part-funded by Breast Cancer Now. Gratitude has also been extended to Art for Cure, who helped support this important work.
Source: Breast Cancer Now
