German Pharmacist Finds Protein That Drives Gallbladder Cancer

German Pharmacist Finds Protein That Drives Gallbladder Cancer

Patients with gallbladder cancer often show few or no symptoms for long periods of time. As a result, the tumors are only detected at a late stage of the disease when treatment is often no longer possible.

Now, a research pharmacist, Sonja M. Kessler has identified a new pathway that may allow improved prognosis and treatment of the disease.

The three proteins usually targeted by pharmacist Sonja M. Kessler in her research work are known to play an important role in embryos in the womb. These proteins help to ensure the rapid growth and development of the unborn child. After birth, however, these proteins typically play no further role.

She has now, in the course of her investigation, discovered a protein that is linked with tumor growth and that functions as a prognostic marker.

Three proteins, IMP1, 2 and 3, are known to play an important in the embryo, helping to ensure rapid growth and development. After birth, these proteins are no longer necessary and should be switched off. But, it turns out that they can be switched on again, which can

cause a lot of harm by promoting cell proliferation, driving tumor growth. Kessler has linked these proteins to gallbladder cancer, which could help to improve treatment. ‘Because IMP2 promotes cell division and proliferation, it also drives the growth of tumors,‘ explains Kessler.

‘All of these proteins are switched off after birth and they are no longer copied from the child’s genetic blueprint,‘ explains licenced pharmacist Dr. Sonja M. Kessler, who is carrying out research at Saarland University in the group run by Professor Alexandra K. Kiemer for her Habilitation – the advanced research degree that entitles the holder to teach at professorial level within the German higher education system.

Research pharmacist Kessler has now succeeded in linking the protein group to gallbladder cancer. ‘We were able to identify the proteins in a large number of tissue samples from gallbladder patients. We were also able to show that the tumor grows faster when the cells contain larger amounts of the IMP2 protein. And in those cases the patient prognosis is poorer,‘ says Kessler.

This result from a basic research programme may in future help to improve gallbladder treatment.

The results of Kessler’s research may also provide the basis for new effective drug treatments. Once the participating protein has been identified, research can be undertaken to influence, slow or even completely prevent the harmful processes that are set in motion by the protein.