SINGAPORE — Scientists at A*STAR have discovered that inhibiting an enzyme involved in cell division can stop the progression of cancer, raising the possibility that the disease could be effectively treated with a drug cure.

Conducted by Dr Dmitry Bulavin and his team at A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), the research showed that Wip1 phosphatase, an enzyme involved in regulating cell division, is a key factor in causing point mutations to sprout in human cancers. These types of mutations stem from errors that are made during DNA replication in the body, causing one base-pair in the DNA sequence to be altered.

These mutations can cause cancers to take root, or to become resilient to treatment. By using drugs to inhibit the action of Wip1 phosphatase, cancer growth can be stunted and tumours can be cured without developing resistance.

Although studies in the past have revealed that this enzyme plays a critical role in regulating the budding of tumours, this was the first time scientists have unearthed a mechanism for its mode of action.

The ground-breaking discovery, which was published in the journal Cancer Cell in October, would mean that cancer can potentially be wiped out with drugs and that tumour growth relapses could be prevented too.

Dr Dmitry Bulavin said, “Our work on Wip1 phosphatase for over a decade has now revealed several key features of this molecule. Our current findings strongly support the use of an anti-Wip1 drug for cancer treatment in order to reduce a high frequency of mutations in the genome, which is one of the main drivers of tumour relapses.”

Professor Hong Wan Jin, Executive Director of IMCB, said, “Dmitry has been the pioneering driver in the mechanistic study of Wip1 phosphatase, and this discovery is monumental in providing novel understanding on the role of Wip1 in cancer at the genomic and systems levels. I am confident that his team at IMCB can further their work in cancer research to offer new approaches for potential drugs against this target.”