Two drugs were found to suppress tumors in a non-conventional manner by hyperactivating oncogenic signaling in cancer cells, causing them stress.
This approach aims to make cancer cells sensitive to specific drugs by stressing them rather than directly inhibiting their division.
The researchers tested this strategy on colorectal cancer cells implanted in mice and saw successful tumor growth inhibition.
The combination of drugs was also effective in inhibiting pancreatic adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, which are aggressive types of cancer with limited treatment options.
The researchers hope that this novel approach to cancer treatment will lead to new options for patients, and they are already exploring the potential to apply a similar principle to eliminate parasites causing neglected tropical diseases.
A groundbreaking treatment approach for cancer has been discovered by a team of researchers, led by Brazilian scientist Matheus Henrique Dias. Instead of conventional methods that aim to inhibit tumor cell division, this new strategy involves hyperactivating oncogenic signaling in cancer cells until they become stressed. The stressed cells are then targeted and attacked by a separate drug, effectively suppressing tumor growth.
The research, published in Cancer Discovery, highlights the surprising discovery that a specific gene, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), actually inhibits tumor cell multiplication. This finding led to the development of a dual-drug treatment approach that disrupts tumor cell signaling, causing replication stress and making the cells vulnerable to targeted drugs. Initial trials in colorectal cancer models showed promising results, with potential applications in treating other aggressive cancer types on the horizon. The researchers are optimistic about the future availability of this innovative treatment strategy for cancer patients worldwide.
In addition to its implications for cancer treatment, the study’s success has inspired related research in combating neglected tropical diseases caused by parasites. By adapting the same principle used in the cancer treatment approach, scientists at the University of São Paulo are exploring ways to eliminate parasites by inducing replication stress and DNA damage, offering hope for more effective treatments in the fight against these diseases. This groundbreaking research marks a significant step forward in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for both cancer and parasitic infections.
