We explain to you what the “death star” is, responsible for the most serious cancers.
- “The Death Star” is the nickname given to the KRAS protein.
- KRAS protein mutations are present in one in ten human cancers.
- Cancer is the leading cause of premature mortality in France.
Scientists have identified new vulnerabilities in the KRAS protein, nicknamed “death Star” because of its spherical shape and its resistance to current treatments. This discovery could be a game-changer for many people with cancer.
Cancers: what is the “Death Star”?
Mutations in the KRAS protein are in fact present in one in ten human cancers, often very aggressive and more lethal than average. Although the protein was discovered more than 40 years ago, only two drugs (sotorasib and adagrasib) directly targeting it have been approved for clinical use to date.
Sotorasib and adagrasib bind to pockets on the surface of the KRAS protein, preventing the attachment of other compounds that could cause it to mutate and thus develop cancer. Drawing on this know-how, a team of researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation in Spain and the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom has developed a new method to map all possible attachment points on the Death Star once.
How to control “the Death Star” and thus cure cancers?
“In this study, we have developed a new approach that allows us to systematically map the allosteric sites of whole proteins. It’s a bit like turning on the light and suddenly revealing the many ways to control the KRAS protein.” explains André Faure, co-author of the study, in a press release.
“The great challenge of our modern medicine is not knowing which proteins cause disease, but knowing how to control them,” also said Ben Lehner, director of research.
“Our study presents a new strategy for targeting KRAS proteins and accelerating the development of drugs to control their activity. The drugs that result from this practice will likely be safer and more effective treatments than those currently available to us,” he concludes.
Cancer is the leading cause of premature mortality in France
Cancer is the leading cause of premature mortality in France, ahead of cardiovascular diseases. In 2023, it is estimated that more than 433,136 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in France, and that 3.8 million people live in our country with a cancer diagnosis.
Worldwide, cancer is the second leading cause of death with nearly 10 million deaths per year.
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