‘Breast cancer causes liver problems’

New research study by JSS Medical College

Mysore/Mysuru: A new research study conducted by scientists from JSS Medical College, JSS School of Pharmacy and School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, shows that breast cancer causes liver inflammation (hepatitis) and fibrosis. This study is a novel one and they have explored the most possible molecular mechanism behind the breast cancer associated comorbidities (liver injury).

This study was recently published in the peer reviewed journal Advances in Cancer Biology-Metastasis which belongs to the very popular Elsevier Publisher Group.

Due to the increased se-dentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and walking, westernisation, increase in intake of high calorie diet, the prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome and associated cancers are rapidly increasing in Karnataka, as well as throughout the Indian sub-continent and across the globe.

According to recent studies and reports, breast cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021, accounting for 12% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In India, breast cancer has become the commonest cancer in women overall. In 2018, 1,62,468 new cases and 87,090 deaths were reported for breast cancer in India.

Liver is the largest and one of the vital organs of the human body. Liver inflammation and Fibrosis may also lead to Hepatocellular Carcinoma (the most common type of liver cancer). There are one or two drugs available in the markets to treat liver inflammation, fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Therefore, this study from JSS scientists has major importance in Cancer Biology as well as in Pharmaceutical Industries and Clinical Research. 

Dr. Prasanna Santhekadur, Associate Professor and Ramalingaswami Fellow at Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College and his Ph.D students G.S. Nirmala and D.S.Varsha in collaboration with Dr. Samudyata C. Prabhuswamimath, an Assistant Professor, JSS School of Life Sciences and Professor, Dr. C. Saravana Babu and Sunanda Tuladhar from JSS School of Pharmacy, conducted this study.

This study is not only important for breast cancer patients but has importance in understanding various other types of cancer associated comorbidities of Liver injury and Cancer metastasis too.

As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Prasanna Santhekadur has been working in this field for almost 18 years. During his post-doctoral training in USA, Dr. Prasanna Santhekadur demonstrated that AEG-1 and SND1 are components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and it is very essential for proper RISC activity in each and every eukaryotic cell including human cells (Previously the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello for their breakthrough discovery of RNA interference or RISC activity in 2006). Last year his team also explored the potential and multi-dimensional anti-cancer activities of the Withaferin A on different Liver cancer cells. This study is supported by Ramalingaswami Fellowship, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.