Scientists uncover unexpected mechanism behind 70-year-old leukemia drug 6-TG

Researchers at CeMM and Oxford found that the protein NUDT5 affects cell sensitivity to the leukemia drug 6-thioguanine through its physical presence rather than its enzymatic activity. Degrading NUDT5 protected cells from the drug's toxicity, while conventional enzyme inhibitors had no effect.

• 6-thioguanine has been used to treat leukemia for over 70 years
• Degrading the NUDT5 protein protected cells from 6-TG toxicity
• Inhibiting NUDT5's enzymatic activity had no effect
• NUDT5 and NUDT15 push cells in opposite directions