Understanding the effect of cancer treatment on healthy tissues

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What is the scientific significance of the paper?

Many cancer drugs affect bone marrow cells and ultimately cause suppression of the immune response as a toxic side effect. These cancer drugs can slow the production of blood cells by killing them off as they grow and divide. In this study, we looked at dendritic cells, a type of antigen-presenting cell, that play an important role in the adaptive immune system. These cells are sometimes found in parts of the body exposed to the outside world, and they are critical in activating the body’s defense systems and maintaining optimal health by fighting off infections. They have been used in this study because they are a good representation of whether a person has a strong immunity.

How may this affect patients down the road?

When cancer drugs are administered to a patient, essentially all of them cause cell and tissue damage through releasing oxidative chemicals. While these can affect the anticancer properties of the drug, these chemicals also can lead to bad side effects in the bone marrow. We report on a drug that can direct changes in the bone marrow and can be used to protect against the damaging impact of anticancer chemotherapy.

What cancers could this be relevant for and how will the findings be applied?

We have developed a drug that can be used in combination with a very large number and diversity of cancer drugs with the rationale that the bone marrow will be protected. This will result in the patient being spared some of the side effects of chemotherapy, such as suppression of the immune system and many of the myalgias associated with low levels of red or white blood cells. Moreover, this work also helps to explain how hormone receptors (estrogen receptor alpha) interact with regulatory proteins and influence bone marrow and immune cell production. By understanding the interplay of hormones and redox conditions in bone marrow, the side effects of chemotherapy might be lessened, helping and speeding recovery.

(The Tew laboratory pursues the development of novel drugs that remain a high priority in the successful therapeutic management of cancer. Researchers specialize in glutathione and glutathione S-transferases to the design and testing of new drugs that target glutathione pathways.)