NYU Researchers Uncover Tumor Adaptation Mechanism to Survive Cancer Treatment
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have discovered that cancer cells may survive treatment by rapidly adjusting gene activity through AP-1 proteins, rather than relying on rare DNA mutations. This new model suggests that tumors can test different survival states and stabilize successful ones, contributing to drug resistance. The study, published in Nature, highlights the role of AP-1 proteins in enabling cancer cells to adapt to stress, such as chemotherapy, by reworking internal systems without permanent DNA changes. This mechanism allows cells to pass on resistant traits, complicating treatment efforts. 
