Researchers have identified a gene target called 14-3-3zeta for selective anti-cancer drugs. Using RNAi techniques, they discovered that when 14-3-3zeta is turned off, lung cancer cells become less able to form new tumor colonies under laboratory conditions.

While the authors found that the cells with 14-3-3zeta turned off do not grow more slowly, the cells are vulnerable to anoikis (Greek for homelessness), a form of cell death that happens when non-cancerous cells that are accustomed to growing in layers find themselves alone.

Further experiments showed that 14-3-3zeta regulates a set of proteins called the Bcl2 family that control programmed cell death, and its absence upsets the balance within the family.

The authors of the study, which has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also notes that 14-3-3zeta is also activated in other forms of cancer such as breast and oral cancers.

Source