S. Korean scientists find link between anti-viral protein, cancer suppression

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists on Tuesday said they have
found a link between an anti-viral protein and cancer suppression that could
advance treatment of the deadly disease.
The Sunkyunkwan University team led by Bae Yong-soo said tests conducted on
laboratory animals showed cancer-fighting drugs activating both the p53
anticancer agent and the protein kinase R (PKR) which primarily fights viruses
that enter the body.
They said rapid PKR caused by anti-cancer drugs, effectively inhibited the
multiplication of cancerous cell growth that eventually resulted in the death of
tumors.
The findings published in the latest on-line issue of Proceedings National
Academy of Sciences of USA (PNAS) is noteworthy because it showed for the first
time a clear link between cancer and the body's anti-viral defense systems.
"The research showed that the effectiveness of the p53 is closely related to
PKR," Bae said.
The life science professor added that the discovery can help find a new treatment
process that can overcome mutations in the p53 that have been cited for causing
resistance to anti-cancer drugs.
"The discovery can one day allow doctors to use common anti-viral drugs like
interferon, to trigger a PKR response that can fight cancerous growth without
worrying about cauing resistance to treatment," he said.
Bae's team conducted tests on two groups of specially engineered mice with one
group having no PKR protein. These animals developed a strong resistance to
anti-cancer drugs that caused rapid growth of tumor cells, while those that had
PKR responded well to chemicals that help fight tumors.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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