Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Discovery: Targeting Minor Splicing
Australian researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment. They have found a new approach that targets a previously overlooked cellular process called minor splicing. This innovative research was conducted at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
The researchers discovered that blocking this minuscule yet crucial mechanism, which affects only 0.05% of human genes, can trigger cancer cells to self-destruct. Remarkably, this process leaves healthy cells largely unharmed.
The research, published in EMBO Reports on July 30, 2025, reveals that minor splicing is essential for about 700 of the 20,000 genes in the human genome. When the activity of a protein encoded by the RNPC3 gene was reduced, a significant slowdown in tumor growth was observed. This protein is a key component of the minor splicing machinery, and its reduction had a profound impact on liver, lung, and stomach cancers.
“Just by halving the amount of this protein, we were able to significantly reduce tumor burden,” said Dr. Karen Doggett, the study’s first author.
The approach shows particular promise against cancers driven by KRAS mutations. These mutations are among the most common genetic changes in solid tumors but have historically been difficult to treat.
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