Scientists discover enzyme that causes cancer, inhibits treatment

SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists said Monday that they have discovered a new enzyme that can cause cancerous growth and inhibit radiation therapy in humans.
The Konkuk University team led by microbial engineering professor An Sung-kwan said it detected the so-called Hades enzyme in human liver cancer patients undergoing treatment at local hospitals.
A detailed examination showed cancer patients usually had higher levels of this particular enzyme compared to healthy people, and that Hades reduced the effects of radiation used to kill off cancerous growth, the team said.
Researchers said the enzyme not only makes it harder to kill off cancer, but contributes to the spread or reemergence of cancerous growth within the body even after doctors have been able to treat the disease initially.
They said Hades works by disrupting the activities of the p53 protein that is attributed to suppressing cancerous growth in humans. The p53 is a "cell killer" protein that is only found in small quantities but becomes more active and multiplies if cancer is growing in the body and radiation therapy is carried out. Subjecting this protein to radiation allows it to live longer and helps it attack cancerous growth.
"The latest research is noteworthy because Hades can be used as a target 'marker' for future research, and controlling this enzyme may raise the effectiveness of current anti-cancer treatment methods," An claimed.
The latest findings were published in last month's online issue of the Cell Death and Differentiation journal.
yonngong@yna.co.kr