A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
UCLA researchers have discovered that certain aggressive cancers lacking the RB gene are highly dependent on the E2F3 protein for survival. This 'synthetic lethality' provides a potential new target for developing therapies for previously untreatable tumors.
Why it matters
Small cell neuroendocrine cancers have seen little progress in treatment for decades; this discovery offers a promising new pathway for drug development.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a hidden weakness in some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers, raising hopes for a new way to attack tumors that have resisted treatment for decades.
The article is a straightforward summary of a medical research breakthrough.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in