Scientists have found a new way to treat cancer

According to the hypothesis about the development of oncological diseases, cancer cells depend on the movement of molecules through nuclear pores formed from new protein complexes. The formation of the latter, in turn, occurs in rapidly dividing tumor cells, so drugs for the treatment of cancer should kill only malignant cells.

American scientists from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute have discovered a cellular mechanism, the blocking of which allows to destroy them, leaving healthy cells intact. The mechanism is the synthesis of protein pores in the cell nucleus, through which various substances are transported.

In the course of the study, malignant tumors from humans were transplanted into mice, while suppressing the process of development of nuclear pore complexes. As a result, it was found that the cancer in the animals developed slowly, and the tumors were smaller.

At the moment, scientists are looking for drugs that block protein channels in the nuclear membrane. In their opinion, the new method of cancer treatment will prevent drug resistance of tumor cells.