The post-translational modification of NuMA in cancer cells is a new target for cancer eradication

Recent findings identify a cell-death mechanism in human cancer cells, based on the inhibition of the post-translational modification of NuMA (nuclear mitotic apparatus protein) in cancer cells, which interferes with its protein-binding capacity. NuMA is an indispensable protein for mitosis in both malignant and healthy cells. However, in this cell-death mechanism, only malignant cells are eradicated, due to structural faults inserted in the mitotic spindle poles, causing mitosis arrest. Cell death is imposed in the cancer cells by mitosis arrest, disregarding their mutations.