Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a novel approach to combat treatment-resistant cancer cells by exploiting their hidden metabolic weaknesses. The study focuses on ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death where iron accumulation induces lipid oxidation in cell membranes. Researchers developed a synthetic lipoprotein particle that effectively targets cancer cells by impairing antioxidant defenses, specifically the enzyme GPx4. Genetic screenings revealed critical genes ACSL4 and TXNRD1 that play vital roles in this process, opening doors to potential new therapies for cancer treatment.
In this work, we utilized a powerful genetic screening tool to better understand how our drug is working to kill cancer cells.
By targeting the cancer cell receptor SR-B1 with the synthetic lipoprotein particle, we were able to strip cancer cells of GPx4.
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