❖ The Scientists from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, have identified a new therapeutic target by activating a DNA repair enzyme called Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1).

❖ Current anticancer drugs like Camptothecin, Topotecan, and Irinotecan focus on inhibiting the enzyme Topoisomerase 1 (Top1).

❖ Cancer cells often develop resistance to these drugs, leading the researchers to explore alternative treatment strategies.

❖ The researchers have discovered that cancer cells can survive Top1-targeted chemotherapy by activating TDP1, which helps repair damaged DNA during cell division.

❖ This process allows the cancer cells to counteract the effects of chemotherapy and continue proliferating.