SOX9: Can this protein enable a molecular reversal that could lead to colorectal cancer? Nilay Sethi, MD - Synopsis below extracted from the video transcript.
Dr. Nilay Sethi discusses the role of the SOX9 protein in the development and progression of colorectal cancer. SOX9 is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of various tissues in the body. However, recent research has shown that SOX9 may also contribute to the development of cancer.
Dr. Sethi explains that SOX9 is overexpressed in a subset of colorectal tumors, and this overexpression has been associated with a poorer prognosis. In addition, studies have shown that inhibition of SOX9 can lead to decreased tumor growth and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy.
Interestingly, Dr. Sethi and his colleagues have also found that inhibiting SOX9 can lead to a phenomenon called "molecular reversal," in which cancer cells lose their malignant characteristics and revert back to a more normal, non-cancerous state. This phenomenon has important implications for cancer treatment, as it suggests that targeting SOX9 may not only slow or stop tumor growth, but may also be able to reverse the cancerous phenotype altogether.
Dr. Sethi and his team are now working to better understand the mechanisms underlying the role of SOX9 in colorectal cancer, and to develop targeted therapies that can exploit this knowledge to improve patient outcomes. While more research is needed to fully understand the potential of SOX9 inhibition as a cancer treatment strategy, Dr. Sethi's work offers promising new avenues for future research and therapeutic development.
