2023-11-08 11:34:42
Scientists have found that taking aspirin activates protective genes to suppress cancer cells. A new molecular mechanism will allow aspirin to be used therapeutically in patients at various stages of cancer.
Colon cancer remains the third most common cancer in the world and the second cause of cancer death. From previous studies, scientists knew about the benefits of aspirin against colorectal cancer, but until now they did not understand exactly how it works in the body against tumors. New work by the team from the University of Munich Ludmig and Maskimilian showedthat aspirin is effective because it activates protective genes against cancer.
It turned out that aspirin induces the production of two molecules, miR-34a and miR-34b/c, which suppress cancer. Initially, aspirin binds to the AMPK enzyme, which modifies the transcription factor NRF2: the latter migrates into the cell nucleus and activates the expression of miR-34 genes. At the same time, aspirin suppresses the c-MYC oncogene, which can suppress NRF2.
It is important to note that the activation of miR-34 genes by aspirin occurs independently of the p53 signaling pathway, which is often suppressed in colorectal cancer. Thus, aspirin can be used for treatment in these cases, the authors emphasize.
Now they intend to study the targets of miR-34 genes in more detail in order to be able to target them with new drugs. At the same time, research continues into the benefits and safety of aspirin in the prevention, growth and metastasis of intestinal tumors.
Previously, in another study, scientists found that statins reduce the risk of colorectal cancer if the patient has an inflammatory process in the intestines.
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