In a new study, researchers found an anti-malarial drug was effective in treating head and neck cancer.
The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Birmingham.
The drug quinacrine was used extensively to prevent and treat malaria in soldiers fighting in mosquito-ridden areas during World War Two.
It is similar to the quinine that makes tonic water glow, has minimal side-effects, and is now used for treating parasite infections and other conditions.
Each year around 11,900 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer in the UK.
Current treatment relies heavily on debilitating surgery and toxic chemotherapy, but despite this, it has a poor outcome with three to seven in 10 people surviving their disease for five years or more.
In the study, the drug quinacrine was tested through a number of methods, including on cell cultures, in tumor biopsies from patients with head and neck cancer, and in mice.
The team found that in mice quinacrine can make standard chemotherapy more effective—suggesting a lower dose may be used, reducing toxic side effects.
They showed the drug to be effective at reducing the growth of cancer cells grown in the lab, and in tumors.
Significantly, the research in mice showed a combination therapy of quinacrine and chemotherapy, and so allowed for the chemotherapy dose to be halved while still maintaining the same impairment of tumor growth.
The team says drug repurposing is particularly exciting due to known safety in humans and low cost, which means they can be rapidly translated from the lab to the clinic.
They are now looking to translate these research findings into a clinical trial for head and neck cancer patients.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Jennifer Bryant at the University of Birmingham.
The study is published in Oncotarget.
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