BROOKINGS, SD (KELO.com) — An SDSU Assistant Professor is leading a team in cutting edge research on cancer. Dr. Rachel Willand-Charnley believes she’s on the path to learning why certain types of cancer appear to be untreatable with chemotherapy.
Dr. Willand-Charnley and her team are focusing on sialic acid, one of the sugars the body normally produces. She says it is also a substance that communicates to other cancer cells, allowing them to reject chemotherapy drugs.
Dr. Willand-Charnley’s research has opened some doors of treatment that others have missed. Her team is unlocking mysteries on why some types of cancer appear to be incurable. They have discovered that sialic acid, a sugar produced by the human body, works to cause lung and colon cancer cells to fight your immune system.
Dr. Willand-Charnley believes researchers are making gains on cancer in many areas. She’s excited for the role her team is playing.
In the past, there were individuals who were instrumental in make major medical breakthroughs. Jonas Salk discovered the cure for polio. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. Who will it be for cancer? Dr. Willand-Charnley believes there will be many names on that list. She believes her team is making important discoveries in cancer research that may play a role in the search for a cure for cancer.
In the end, Dr. Willand-Charnley says it’s finding the answers that is important.
Future research will explore how cancers utilize proteins to develop multi-drug resistance.
