Kerala scientist part of breakthrough cancer research in the US, thesis published in ‘Nature’

Cancer cells, like bunnies, multiply in the blink of an eye but are way less cute -  says the meme on the dreadful disease on a light-hearted page for cancer patients. Jokes apart, studies are still ongoing to understand why cancer cells proliferate like they do. A Kannur native is part of a research team probing the genetic secret to this phenomenon, reports Manorama Online. Dr Robin Sebastian, a scientist at the National Institute of Health in Washington, is part of a US research team studying it. Their research thesis has now been published in the famous science magazine Nature.

What the study entails
Dr Robin and his team reportedly observed how cancer cells easily grow in damaged or broken DNAs. The research was based on the significant initial knowledge that replisome, a protein molecule found near the DNA, is the main energy source for DNA reproduction. This research then led to a breakthrough in the cancer treatment protocol based on rearranging the replisome. Dr Robin is the son of Kannur Paisakkari natives TT Sebastian and Rosamma. His wife, Dr Supriya Varthak too, is a scientist at the institute. Dr. Robin has also done pivotal research on the health crisis faced by the Endosulfan victims in Kasargod.