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20/02/2004
Charity hails potential breakthrough to cancer treatment
Stripping cancer cells of their defences against chemotherapy with a new class of anti-resistance drug has the potential to improve treatment for many solid tumours, Cancer Research UK scientists have said.
Cancer cells often resist the effects of treatment with the help of a molecule called P-glycoprotein, which acts as a molecular bouncer – throwing out anti-cancer drugs before they get a chance to take action. But in a study published in the March edition of the European Journal of Cancer, researchers in Oxford have stated that they were able to inactivate the ejection mechanism, making cancer cells vulnerable to treatment.
Scientists knew that a drug called XR9576 could block P-glycoprotein and sensitise individual cancer cells to chemotherapy, but they did not know if the drug would be successful against whole tumours, which can be very difficult to treat.
Professor Robert Souhami, Cancer Research UK, Director of Clinical and External Affairs, said: "It's very upsetting when a patient whose tumour initially seemed to be responding to chemotherapy then begins to relapse as cells become resistant to treatment.
"Cancer cells use a number of strategies for avoiding the effects of chemotherapy, but we can develop methods to overcome them. The new study has demonstrated that by overpowering one of the molecular doormen that many cancer cells employ, it is possible to leave tumours vulnerable to treatment once more. This has obvious potential implications for treatment."
In tests the anti-resistance drugs managed to keep cancer at bay for several years, and some of the most progressive cancers were stalled for several months using the therapy.
Doctor have given the research a cautious welcome.
(gmcg)
Cancer cells often resist the effects of treatment with the help of a molecule called P-glycoprotein, which acts as a molecular bouncer – throwing out anti-cancer drugs before they get a chance to take action. But in a study published in the March edition of the European Journal of Cancer, researchers in Oxford have stated that they were able to inactivate the ejection mechanism, making cancer cells vulnerable to treatment.
Scientists knew that a drug called XR9576 could block P-glycoprotein and sensitise individual cancer cells to chemotherapy, but they did not know if the drug would be successful against whole tumours, which can be very difficult to treat.
Professor Robert Souhami, Cancer Research UK, Director of Clinical and External Affairs, said: "It's very upsetting when a patient whose tumour initially seemed to be responding to chemotherapy then begins to relapse as cells become resistant to treatment.
"Cancer cells use a number of strategies for avoiding the effects of chemotherapy, but we can develop methods to overcome them. The new study has demonstrated that by overpowering one of the molecular doormen that many cancer cells employ, it is possible to leave tumours vulnerable to treatment once more. This has obvious potential implications for treatment."
In tests the anti-resistance drugs managed to keep cancer at bay for several years, and some of the most progressive cancers were stalled for several months using the therapy.
Doctor have given the research a cautious welcome.
(gmcg)
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