Scientists from the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INC), St. Petersburg State University and Pavlovsk Medical University, they found that “junk” DNA affects the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. This conclusion was made after experiments were conducted on human lung cancer cells. It will be possible to apply the results of the study to develop more effective drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation told socialbites.ca.
Scientists refer to DNA that never turns into protein as “Muros”. Therefore, at first glance, its place in the genome seems unnecessary, it is perceived as “garbage”. But experts are increasingly realizing that these DNA fragments are important, in that they are involved in processes that increase tumor resistance to chemotherapy drugs.
To understand the role of junk DNA transcripts (transcription is a common process by which all living cells synthesize RNA molecules using DNA) in the development of non-small cell lung cancer, the researchers created a model of lung tumor tissue and a microenvironment. fibroblasts.
During experiments, it was shown that blocking the transcription products of “junk” DNA in fibroblasts leads to a decrease in the resistance of lung tumor cells to chemotherapy drugs.
“In the future, the results of the study can be used in the development of complex drugs for the treatment of oncology, which will target not only the treatment of cancer cells, but also all components of the tumor,” said Natella Yenukashvili. The head of the non-coding DNA laboratory at the Science Center Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences told socialbites.ca.