The Institute Regina Elena for several years studying the role in cancer biology of a protein called human HtrA1 serine protease, which appears to be altered in pathological situations, either inflammatory-degenerative tumor.
The research group of Professor Alfonso Baldi, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Second University of Naples, in collaboration with the Cancer Institute Regina Elena, was the first to characterize the role of HtrA1 as a tumor suppressor, as the high HtrA1 expression in tumor cells reduces the proliferation and migration capacity of these cells.
In collaboration with the Cancer Center at the Mayo Clinical Rochester (USA), Professor Baldi showed that HtrA1 acts as an endogenous mediator of the action of cisplatin in cancer cells and that levels of expression are able to predict response to treatment with cisplatin in tumors of the ovary and stomach.
These findings have led scientists to analyze expression of HtrA1 in a large group of mesotheliomas treated at the Istituto dei Tumori Regina Elena and the Second University of Naples, this new research demonstrating that the higher the expression of HtrA1, more is the survival of patients. This observation allows HtrA1 counted among the few prognostic molecular marker of mesothelioma.
It can be assumed that modifying the levels of expression of HtrA1 in tumor cells, we can make these cells less aggressive and more sensitive to treatment with cisplatin. Further studies are currently underway at the Regina Elena and meanwhile all cancer patients hope to soon have more effective treatment to preserve their health. Comment on this article on the forums and subscribe to the newsletter, you will receive every week the news that matters to your health.
Tags: chemotherapy, Mesothelioma, Prognosis, Prognosis And Chemotherapy, Protein
