Indian-origin researcher Dr Abhimanu Pandey’s ground-breaking study at the The Australian National University (ANU) reveals that natural protein can be activated to “cool off” cancer cells.
ANU research teams’ study published in Science Advances hopes to fight bowel cancer will be easier with a protein known as Ku70.
Dr Pandey lead researcher of this study is a postdoctoral researcher at ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR). He is attached to the Man Group headed by Professor Si Ming Man.
Dr Pandey said in a statement:
“In its activated state, the protein acts like a surveillance system, detecting signs of damaged DNA in our cells. DNA is the genetic code of life. Damaged DNA is a sign of danger that can turn healthy cells into cancer cells.”
Dr Pandey completed his graduate studies in India before earning his PhD from JCSMR in 2022. Recently, he received the esteemed Royal Society of New South Wales (RSNSW) Bicentennial Early Career Research and Service Citations Award.
On his research, Dr Pandey adds:
“Our research shows that Ku70 can ‘cool off’ cancer cells and mop up damaged DNA. The protein prevents the cancer cells from becoming more aggressive and spreading throughout the body, essentially deactivating them and keeping them in a dormant state.”
ANU’s Prof. Si Ming Man observed that future bowel cancer screening methods could include checking the levels of Ku70 in pre-cancerous polyps, abnormal growths of tissue found in the colon, before healthy cells turn cancerous.
“Our research shows Ku70 is a good immune biomarker, meaning it helps us predict who will fare better or worse after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. We hope the cancer research conducted at ANU helps raise awareness of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment on this important day.”
Cancer poses a significant global health burden. The incidence rate of bowel cancer is projected to increase by 64% globally and 51% in Australia over the next 20 years.
Bowel cancer ranks as the fourth most diagnosed cancer in Australia. Remarkably, one in 20 individuals will receive a bowel cancer diagnosis by the age of 85. Tragically, it claims more than 100 lives in Australia each week.
However, there’s hope as researchers estimate that around 90% of cases can be successfully treated if detected early.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers a solution. Australians aged between 50 and 74 receive a free bowel screening test every two years. This initiative serves as an effective measure to promote early detection and treatment.
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