A research team from the University of Texas he identified a protein that destroys even difficult-to-treat cancers, offering the hope of new effective treatments.
The study was published in the journal Nature Cancer, and I link it here.
ERX-41
As mentioned, experiments in mice and human tissues have found that the protein, called ERX-41, is effective against the most aggressive cancers (including those of the breast, pancreas, ovaries and brain) and leaves healthy tissue intact.
The results were so encouraging that clinical trials are expected to begin in the coming months. This is one of the most promising discoveries to date: it offers hope of a “one-size-fits-all” pill against different cancers. A pill that was once considered impossible.
Anti tumor protein: test results
“We have identified a critical vulnerability in multiple types of cancer. And validated our findings in multiple tumor cell types and animal models,” says lead author Professor Ratna Vadlamudi, from the University of Texas. “The range of cell lines and xenografts in which the compound has shown efficacy is truly compelling.”
Xenografts are human tumors grown in mouse models for research purposes.
Prof. Vadlamudi's team has been studying breast and ovarian cancer for some time with the aim of developing small molecule inhibitors for tumors resistant to current therapies. in 2017 had identified a compound called ERX-11 that targets the estrogen receptor (ER) protein that drives most breast cancers.
With similar work, the team today showed that ERX-41 killed ER-positive and triple-negative breast tumors (TNBCs) in petri dishes. Not only that: subsequent tests showed that ERX-41 also attacked a large number of human cancers.
Next steps
“The safety profile and high therapeutic index of this compound are particularly notable and bode well for clinical translation,” says Prof. Vadlamudi.
“Our study involves a targeted strategy for solid tumors including breast, brain, pancreas and ovary where orally bioavailable small molecules cause tumor cell death.”
Clinical trials will start in early 2023.
