Post News Network
BHUBANESWAR:Scientists of the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) headed by Sandip Mishra made two discoveries in the field of breast cancer, published in November issue of two International Science Journals — BioMed Central (BMC) Cancer and Cell Death and Diseases. Talking to reporters at ILS headquarters here, Mishra who has made pioneering work in breast cancer, said it is the second most leading cause of death of women worldwide. At least 37 per cent of cancer patients in world suffer from breast cancer, he added. Breast cancer is caused by genetic and environmental factors (including cigarette smoking).
“In our first study using mice model as well as human cancer samples we
found that nicotine has a significant role in breast cancer incidence. We found one of the cancer promoting genes (oncogene) is also named ‘Enhancer of zeste homolog 2’ (EZH2) is associated with nicotine-related breast cancer among the smoking
population.’’
Misra said they have derived the result by identifying the inhibitor of the enzyme which could be used as a drug to checkmate the nicotine-associated breast cancer and metastasis. In another study, the scientists have found that Artemisinin which is used for treatment of malaria can effectively prevent spread of breast cancer from one part to the other. The researchers who used human breast cancer cell lines and samples found the cell motility, which is a major cause that spreads cancer in the body and can be prevented by using artemisinin.
We can use artemisinin for breast cancer therapy by combing it with (ERR-beta), a prognostic marker molecule that Mishra had identified earlier. ILS director Ajay Parida said on the basis of this encouraging outcome, the scientists will carry out further research in collaboration with specialists and cancer biologists to ensure an effective treatment reaches people suffering from the malady.
