Protein makes cancers susceptible to chemo

BOSTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. cancer researchers say they have discovered a specific protein that, when suppressed, makes cancers more susceptible to chemotherapy.

The Children's Hospital Boston scientists said a group of cancer drugs, called taxanes, have become front-line therapy for a variety of metastatic cancers. But, as with many chemotherapy agents, resistance can develop -- a frequent problem in breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers.

Now the researchers have discovered a protein previously unknown to be involved in taxane resistance can potentially be targeted with drugs, making a cancer more susceptible to chemotherapy.

The scientists, led by Bruce Zetter of the hospital's vascular biology program, said the protein, prohibitin1, might also serve as a biomarker allowing physicians to predict a patient's response to chemotherapy with a blood test.

The study appears in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.