Stopping Cancer Before It Starts: A Medical Research in Neutralizing Herpes-Linked Tumors
Prof. Meir Shamay and his team at Bar-Ilan University uncover a crucial protein interaction that could prevent virus-related cancers
How Medical Research Is Targeting Cancer at Its Viral Roots
Certain viruses are known to increase cancer risk, and one of the most notorious is Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Linked to aggressive cancers like Primary Effusion Lymphoma, this virus has remained a challenge in cancer research. But a breakthrough in medical research by Prof. Meir Shamay and his team at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine may offer a new way to stop it in its tracks.
By uncovering a critical protein interaction essential for the survival of KSHV in human cells, the research team has identified a potential target for future cancer-prevention drugs. Their work, supported by the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF), aims to develop therapies that neutralize virus-infected cells before they turn cancerous.
A New Approach to Cancer Prevention
Prof. Shamay’s lab specializes in viral oncology, focusing on how viruses contribute to tumor development. By studying KSHV and its role in cancer, researchers hope to create precise treatments that selectively eliminate infected cells while leaving healthy ones intact.
Their latest discovery revolves around LANA, a viral protein essential for KSHV to survive inside human cells. Using a new research method, the team identified how LANA interacts with the cellular protein MeCP2, which binds to DNA and allows the virus to persist.
The Key Discovery: Disrupting the Virus's Lifeline
Experiments revealed that mutations in MeCP2 prevent the virus from maintaining its genome in human cells. This means that blocking MeCP2’s ability to recruit LANA could effectively clear KSHV from infected cells—stopping cancer before it begins.
The next step? Prof. Shamay’s team is now searching for drugs that disrupt this protein interaction, preventing the virus from establishing long-term infection and, ultimately, stopping virus-driven cancers from developing.
The Future of Cancer Prevention
With $60,000 in annual funding from the Israel Cancer Research Fund, this study is laying the groundwork for potential anti-cancer drug development. If successful, the method could pave the way for treatments that target other virus-related cancers, offering a new frontier in medical research.
By combining innovative medical research with targeted therapies, this work is reshaping how scientists approach cancer prevention at the molecular level. As this research progresses, it brings new hope for a future where certain cancers can be stopped before they even begin.