A mutation that allows cells to grow out of control could also
provide a new way to target and destroy cancer cells. This
potential Achilles’ heel comes from a mutation in a gene called
PTEN, which is found in a wide range of cancers. PTEN is one of
many tumor suppressor genes that we have to prevent our cells
from growing out of control. If the PTEN gene stops working
because of a mutation, it can cause tumours to develop – indeed
many tumors have a mutated form of PTEN. However when a door
closes, a window opens: the PTEN mutation helps the tumor to
grow, but it could also mark it out as a target. Researchers
from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, found that
switching off another gene known as NLK (Nemo-like kinase)
killed tumor cells that had the PTEN mutation. This makes NLK a
good target for drug developers to create a new cancer
treatment. Initially, the researchers took samples of tumor
cells with and without the mutation, and switched off genes for
important proteins that are used for regulati