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Paolo Rossi Castelli06 Feb 20191 min read

New strategy: blocking cancer’s “clock

The researchers used an experimental molecule called GO289, which specifically targets an enzyme (CK2) that plays an important role in circadian cycles and in the activity of four proteins that are fundamental for cell growth and survival, and hence managed to interfere with the lifespan of cancer cells. In laboratory tests conducted on osteosarcoma cells (bone cancer cells), it was discovered that the GO289 molecule slowed down the cancer cells’ circadian clock, without changing the cycles of healthy cells, which prevented the tumour from growing and metastasizing.  The exact same effects have also been observed in renal cell carcinoma, another demonstration of the importance of regulating circadian rhythms, which also supports the idea that the same mechanism can be used, in the future, against other types of cancer cells.

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Paolo Rossi Castelli

Journalist since 1983, Paolo has been dealing with scientific divulgation for years, especially in the fields of medicine and biology. He is the creator of Sportello Cancro, the site created by corriere.it on oncology in collaboration with the Umberto Veronesi Foundation. He collaborated with the pages of the Science of Corriere della Sera for several years. He is the founder and director of PRC-Comunicare la scienza.

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