The drug methotrexate, first used in the 1940’s, has been found to destroy the damaged MSH2 gene prevelant in people with the genetic condition HNPCC. HNPCC contributes to bowel cancer, tumors of the stomach, womb, ovaries and kidneys.
MSH2 usually plays an essential role in repairing DNA damage. When the gene is damaged, mistakes in the genetic code of cells increase the risk of cancer. Methotrexate selectively destroys cells lacking the MSH2 function, providing a targeted therapy for patients with bowel cancer caused by MSH2 mutation.
The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, is welcomed by independent experts. Professor Will Steward of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer says, “This is good news from one of our oldest chemotherapy drugs. It won’t be for everyone, but it does hold out hope of a tailored treatment for those affected – a form of personalized chemotherapy.”
News source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8223441.stm
