The pathological mechanism of cancer-causing fusion of the two genes was revealed

columbia university medical center (CUMC) researchers found that the fusion of two adjacent genes, FGFR3 and TACC3, causes mitochondrial over-movement, which provides energy for rapid cell growth and thus cancer. In a
online edition of the Journal of Cancer, they said experiments showed that targeted drugs targeting this carcinogen can stop tumors from growing. The study offers new ideas for treating cancer caused by gene fusion.
as early as 2012, CUMC researchers found that some glioblastomas were caused by the fusion of the genes FGFR3 and TACC3. Since then, many scientists have found the same gene fusion in some cases of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, etc., but the mechanism of this fusion to promote tumor growth has not been clear.
, CUMC researchers found that the fusion of the two genes activates a protein called PIN4. Once activated, the protein causes the peroxidase to multiply, releasing a large amount of oxidants. These oxidants induce PPC1alpha, a key regulator of mitochondrial metabolism, causing mitochondrials to over-exercise, producing the large amount of energy needed for cancer cells to divide and grow rapidly.
researchers found that treating human brain cancer cells containing the FGFR3 and TACC3 genes with mitochondrial inhibitors blocked energy production within the cancer cells and significantly slowed tumor growth. Experiments on mouse models of human brain cancer containing this gene fusion showed the same results.
New study shows that drugs that directly target mitochondrial metabolism and the FGFR3 and TACC3 genes may prevent tumor recurrence due to drug resistance, and that the use of mitochondrial inhibitors and kinase inhibitors may be effective in the treatment of cancers caused by gene fusion. (Source: Science and Technology Daily Liu Haiying)