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3-D Model Developed To Fight Cancer Resistance
Viennese Scientists Develop Computer Model To Fight Cancer-Cell Resistance
By Marietta Gross - Scoop Media Auckland
For years researchers have been trying to break cancer cell resistance to pharmaceuticals. Karin Pleban and her team from Vienna University (www.univie.ac.at) have developed a computer model of the P-Glycoprotein, which is an important factor in battling cancer.
Cancer cell resistance against pharmaceuticals is a growing problem in the treatment of tumours and infectious diseases. One of the reasons is the accreted production of transport proteins, like the P-Glycoprotein, which embeds into a tumour cell's membrane and bacteria. Cancer cells resist being rendered inactive by pumping pharmaceuticals out of the cells before medication is able take effect.
In layperson's language “pumps” play a significant role in preventing clinicians from successfully treating cancer.
As these pumps are non-specific in their recognition and therefore transport a multiplicity of current antibiotics and tumour therapeutics, their increased production leads to the occurrence of multi-resistances.
Until now no proper pharmaceutical exists to eliminate these resistances. A promising approach to overcome this multi-resistance is the development of substances, which are able to block these medicine pumps. Viennese scientists have been experimenting by using the hypertension supplement Verapamil.
Based on perennial
research Karin Pleban from the institute for
medical/pharmaceutical chemistry set up a three-dimensional
computer model of the transport protein P-Glycoprotein.
Researchers say this model could be a major development that
will prevent cancer cells from being resistant to
pharmaceuticals.
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