Researchers Uncover Mechanism of Colorectal Cancer Tumor Cell Resistance to Chemotherapy

Recent research has uncovered a mechanism of colorectal cancer tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy. This discovery could help to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer patients.

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon and rectum. It is the third most common type of cancer in the United States, and it is estimated that over 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year.

Chemotherapy Resistance

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for colorectal cancer, but unfortunately, many tumors become resistant to chemotherapy drugs. This means that the chemotherapy is no longer effective at treating the cancer. Researchers have been trying to understand why this happens, and now they have uncovered a mechanism of tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy.

The Discovery

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that the tumor cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs by producing a protein called MCL-1. This protein helps the tumor cells to survive the chemotherapy drugs, and it is produced by a gene called BCL-2.

Implications of the Discovery

This discovery could help to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer patients. By understanding how the tumor cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs, researchers can develop new drugs that can target the MCL-1 protein and make the chemotherapy more effective.

In conclusion, researchers have uncovered a mechanism of colorectal cancer tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy. This discovery could help to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer patients. #ColorectalCancer #Chemotherapy #MCL-1 #BCL-2