Novel molecule for cancer therapy

Dr. Manika Pal Bhadra, one of the study authors, says that the team proposes to conduct experiments on rat models. Photo: special arrangement 

A new small molecule synthesised by scientists at the Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology has shown to effectively control growth of cancerous cells by preventing the mis-expression of a specific micro RNA involved in tumour formation.

Micro RNAs or miRNAs play an important role in cancer biology. They are non-coding RNAs and are involved in gene regulation and many developmental processes. Several thousand miRNAs that control 30-40 per cent of all genes have been identified in human and other organisms.  Researchers worldwide are targeting miRNAs to find better therapeutics for cancer. 

In studies carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad the scientists identified dual functions of the newly synthesised molecule, triazole.

It was found that uncontrolled cell growth was drastically reduced when the molecule was inserted into cancerous cell lines. The molecule also acted as HDAC protein inhibitor in human tumour cells andDrosophila larvae during in vivo experiments. HDAC inhibitors are known to promote the process of programmed cell death in which unwanted cells that pose a threat to the organism are destroyed.

Interestingly, the researchers discovered that the novel molecule specifically acted as a negative regulator for bantam miRNA. The mis-expression of bantam miRNA is responsible for diseases of cell proliferation that inhibit programmed cell death.

With the in vivo studies conducted using Drosophila model (the nature of apoptosis is similar to humans), the researchers now propose to carry out experiments in rat models and eventually conduct clinical studies.

“If it goes through effectively in pre-clinical and clinical studies, there is a definite chance to add a new molecule for cancer therapeutics and for reducing tumours”, said Dr. Manika Pal Bhadra, Head of the Centre for Chemical Biology at IICT and one of the authors of the study. She underlined the fact that the molecule was playing a dual role in not only controlling cancerous cell growth but was also inducing apoptosis. 

Dr. Utpal Bhadra of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said: “This work is important as we used Drosophila for screening of molecules and validation of a molecule for cancer therapy.” The study was published recently in Scientific Reports.