02/12/2011

IMBA researchers explore relationship between cellularstress and carcinogenesis.

Noxious, mutagenic and carcinogenic substances are stress factors for cells, and the damage they cause to genetic material can trigger the development of cancer. However, the cells put up stiff resistance against malignant transformation. Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) in Vienna studying two of the most widespread types of cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer, recently made an extremely significant discovery: the cells have their own „watchdog" that sniffs out oncogenic stress and counteracts carcinogenesis.