Kornberg's Impact on Cancer Research

Another area where Kornberg’s research is paying off is in the field of cancer research.  Cancer cells are basically cells that undergo uncontrolled transcription causing rapid cell division.  This could be due to defects in the transcription factors, enhancer, promoter, or other aspects of transcriptional activation.  If Kornberg’s research leads us to the full understanding of why some genes are active while others are not, then this would be the great cancer “cure”.  By understanding why genes are being turned on at the molecular level, we might be able to devise a plan to stop or slow down this expression.  As a result, there will be no rapid cell division. In a study down by (Tong, et al, 2005) the genes Cox-2 and c-myc were suppressed. The mechanism of repression includes alterations in elongation factor, and alterations in the RNA polymerase II CTD. If the mechanism could be fully understood, then we might be able to find a way to repress all cancer cells from dividing. It is clear that Kornberg has his foot in a lot of science doors.