Contaminating cancer genomes

Two European teams have pinpointed the DNA-protective enzyme 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine triphosphatase as a chemically tractable target whose inhibition kills cancer cells by accelerating DNA damage.^1,2 Both groups have identified collections of small molecule inhibitors of the enzyme-one of which is an isomer of cancer drug Xalkori crizotinib-and both are looking to partner with industry.

The compounds could be useful to treat a range of tumor types, including K-Ras (KRAS)-mutant cancers...