Combining breast, lung cancer drugs to treat cancer yields better results

A new study has shed light on making cancer treatment more effective.

According to the study, if the drugs used to treat breast and lung cancer are combined they overcome resistance to treatment and induce senescence- a state in which cells are thought to stop growing and dividing but without undergoing cell death, thus yielding better results in cancer treatment.

The findings highlighted that breast cancer drug palbococlib when combined with the lung cancer crizotinib, yielded better results and the combination of the two was more effective against cancer cells in the laboratory than their solo use.

Scientists also discovered that resistance to palbociclib is often driven by a protein which is targeted by crizotinib, thus, providing the rationale for using these two drugs together.

Palcociclib is one of a group of drugs which blocks the function of two proteins- CDK4 and CDK6- known to promote tumour cell division and cancer progression.

However, cancers can become resistant to palbociclib by activating a related molecule called CDK2, which is able to drive cell division in the absence of CDK4/6.

Based on this discovery, the researchers found that pairing CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib together with crizotinib which blocks MET activity, created a combination treatment that was much more effective than either drug on its own against cancer cells grown in the lab or human tumours growing in mice.

The combined agents acted synergistically not only to block cancer cell division but also to induce senescence.

The researchers achieved promising results in cancer cells derived from different organs in the body- from breast and lung to bowel- indicating that there is potential to expand clinical use of palbociclib and other CDK4/6 inhibitors beyond breast cancer to benefit a wider range of patients.

Study co-leader  said, cancer's ability to adapt, evolve and become drug resistant is the biggest challenge we face in creating more effective treatments for the disease. In this study, we sought to understand exactly how resistance occurs to an important family of breast cancer drugs, so that we can stay one step ahead of the cancer.

He added, we've shown the potential of combining two precision medicines for breast and lung cancer together to create a two-pronged attack that strips cancer cells of their resistance.

The researchers said,  in addition, use of a current breast cancer medicine together with these other medicines could be a new, promising route for the treatment of lung and several other cancers.

 

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New drug may hold promise in preventing breast, lung cancer

A new drug that may stop a gene associated with obesity from triggering breast and lung cancer, as well as prevent these cancers from growing, is in testing stages, scientists say.

The drug, I-BET-762, was found showing signs of significantly delaying the development of existing breast and lung cancers by zeroing in on how a cancerous gene, called c-Myc, acts. 

"I-BET-762 works by targeting DNA so that this gene can't be expressed," said a researcher.

"It does this by inhibiting a number of important proteins -- both in cancer and immune cells -- ultimately reducing the amount of cancer cells in mice by 80 per cent," the Dr. added.

For example, a particular protein, known as pSTAT3, can become activated in immune cells and stop them from doing their job, such as fighting off an invading cancer.
 
The offending protein also can become overproduced in cancer cells and act as a shield - ultimately protecting the tumour, the researchers said.

"In our study, the drug decreased pSTAT3 levels by 50 per cent in both types of cells," a Dr. noted.
Another study applied the finding to precancerous cells and found that the drug prevented more than 50 per cent of these cells from becoming cancerous.

The c-Myc gene is induced by visceral fat, which is found around the inner organs of the body as opposed to subcutaneous fat, which is located under the skin. This visceral fat is more dangerous to your health.

"Almost half a million of all new cancers have been linked to obesity," the Dr. said.

"There is evidence that visceral fat and high-fat diets can increase cancer risk; and while current cancer treatments have helped to lower cancer mortality, the number of obesity-associated cancers continues to climb."

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