Many researchers have spent decades searching for drugs capable of preventing cancer from spreading. Now a team in Spain believes they may have accomplished this elusive feat.
In the case of breast cancer and many other types of cancer, a localized tumor is not capable of killing an individual; the disease only becomes deadly when it spreads to more vital or inoperative organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs, bones, or brain. Therefore, a drug that could prevent cancer from spreading would be capable of saving countless lives.
A research team from the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona, Spain, have been studying Omomyc, a therapeutic mini-protein and MYC-gene inhibitor that was invented at VHIO to attack cancerous tumors.
Photo: Adobe Stock/ashtproductionsMYC genes are not well understood, and there has been some disagreement in the research world about whether inhibiting the expression of these genes would stop metastatic tumors from spreading or actually be counterproductive in that pursuit. However, the Barcelona team’s work seems to have laid that argument to rest by demonstrating in lab tests and clinical trials that Omomyc inhibits MYC genes.
“The response has been very positive, and, in all cases, it has been verified that Omomyc has significant antimetastatic activity, contrary to what had been speculated,” explains Dr. Daniel Massó, researcher and first author of the article.
Photo: Adobe Stock/luchschenF “Until now, we have shown that Omomyc was effective in controlling many primary tumors,” says Dr. Laura Soukekco, director of Translational and Preclinical Research and head of the VHIO Antitumor Therapies Modeling Group. “Now, in addition, we have seen that it is also an effective drug at blocking the invasion, establishment, and growth of metastases in breast cancer.”
Omomyc has previously shown promise in in-vitro testing and animal models on primary tumors. Now it’s being demonstrated in clinical trials on human beings that this drug has powerful antitumor properties, even when the tumors in question are metastatic. Regardless of the tissues’ origins and subsequent mutations, Omomyc appears to be able to combat them. It has even been effective against aggressive triple-negative breast cancers.
Photo: Adobe Stock/mast3r “This makes us optimistic and think that, if these patients were treated with our drug, maybe we could improve their survival,” says Dr. Massó.
Whether or not this drug will be the long-awaited key to saving the lives of breast cancer patients remains to be seen. Still, it’s an important step forward in a fight that’s so important for us to win.
The study was published in the journal Cancer Research Communications.
Provide Mammograms
Support those fighting Breast Cancer at The Breast Cancer Site for free! →
WhizzcoOriginal Article
