Scientists discover 'power source' of cancer

A new study has revealed that a similar protein complex and its subunit which is now believed to be a cancer-causing gene that impacts activity of another gene that's tied to tumour growth.

According to scientists, protein complex called CSN and its subunit CSN6 impacts activity of another gene (Myc) which has been earlier tied to tumor growth.

A study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center led by Mong-Hong Lee, Ph.D., a professor of molecular and cellular oncology, has demonstrated the significance of CSN6 in regulating Myc which may very well open up a new pathway for treating and killing tumors.

The researchers said that they have discovered that CSN6 is a strong oncogene that is frequently overexpressed and significantly speeds up tumor growth in many types of cancer and furthermore, CSN6 also affects the expression of Myc in tumors.

Myc is a proto-oncogene or master cancer gene that spurs tumor growth in a variety of cancers including breast, lung, colon, brain, skin, leukemia, prostate, pancreas, stomach and bladder.

Lee said that the study findings are important because targeting Myc is a challenging task due to its unique protein structure. Even though it has been studied for decades, no effective inhibitor for Myc has been successfully developed. His team's study found that inhibiting CSN6 quickly destabilizes Myc, greatly impairing metastasis and tumor growth.

The study was published in Nature Communications.