Spread the love

Definition: How can DNA repair pathways be targeted for therapeutic interventions?

DNA repair pathways are essential cellular mechanisms that correct DNA damage and maintain genomic stability. However, when these pathways are compromised or overwhelmed, it can lead to the accumulation of DNA damage and the development of various diseases, including cancer.

Targeting DNA repair pathways for therapeutic interventions involves manipulating these cellular mechanisms to enhance DNA repair or inhibit specific repair pathways in order to selectively kill cancer cells or sensitize them to other treatments.

Strategies for targeting DNA repair pathways:

1. Enhancing DNA repair:

One approach is to enhance the activity of DNA repair pathways to improve their efficiency in repairing DNA damage. This can be achieved by upregulating the expression or activity of key repair proteins or by providing exogenous factors that promote DNA repair.

See also What are the benefits of caloric restriction in anti-aging?

2. Inhibiting DNA repair:

Alternatively, inhibiting specific DNA repair pathways can be used to selectively kill cancer cells. By targeting the repair pathways that are essential for the survival of cancer cells, normal cells with intact repair mechanisms can be spared. This can be achieved through the use of small molecule inhibitors or gene silencing techniques to block the activity of specific repair proteins.

3. Synthetic lethality:

Synthetic lethality is a strategy that exploits the concept of genetic interactions to selectively kill cancer cells. It involves targeting a specific DNA repair pathway that is already compromised in cancer cells, and then introducing a second defect in another DNA repair pathway. This combination of defects leads to cell death, while normal cells with intact repair pathways remain unaffected.

See also When does the production of reactive oxygen species increase in mitochondria?

4. Combination therapies:

Combining DNA repair-targeted therapies with other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can enhance their effectiveness. DNA repair inhibitors can sensitize cancer cells to these treatments by preventing the repair of DNA damage induced by these therapies, leading to increased cell death.

Overall, targeting DNA repair pathways for therapeutic interventions holds great promise in the field of cancer treatment. By manipulating these cellular mechanisms, it is possible to selectively kill cancer cells or sensitize them to other treatments, potentially improving patient outcomes.

See also How do non-coding RNAs affect the lifespan of organisms?

Keywords: repair, pathways, targeting, mechanisms, damage, specific, selectively, interventions, cellular