Stockholm News: A new study has found that certain blood tumor cells have weak links that can be "precisely targeted" by drugs, making it possible to "target" cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. The Karolinska Institute in Sweden recently released a statement stating that an international team of researchers from the institution focused on studying a blood tumor called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This disease mainly affects the elderly, and the current treatment methods are limited, making it difficult to cure. The team found that a mutation in the SF3B1 gene in somatic cells can cause myelodysplastic syndrome, but this mutation not only leads to the disease, but also happens to be the fatal weakness of cancer cells, because cancer cells carrying this mutation will incorrectly process genetic information, resulting in abnormal synthesis of the key protein UBA1. Lack of UBA1 can disrupt the internal order of cancer cells and make them more fragile. Based on this weakness, the team tested the drug TAK-243, which can block UBA1, in an attempt to "add insult to injury" to cancer cells that already lack UBA1. The results showed that the drug can effectively kill cancer cells, while healthy cells with normal UBA1 levels were basically unaffected. This result has been validated in various experimental models, including cells derived from real patients. The bulletin points out that the current treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome mainly focuses on relieving symptoms such as anemia. Stem cell transplantation is a method with therapeutic potential, but it carries high risks and challenges for patients. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new drugs with fewer side effects and stronger targeting. This study provides new ideas for targeted therapy directly targeting mutant cancer cells. Next, the team plans to evaluate drug combination regimens in order to further enhance efficacy and promote the translation of research findings into clinical applications. The relevant achievements have been published in the international academic journal "Leukemia". (New Society)