The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center’s research team has stumbled upon a promising discovery in the fight against lung cancer.
They found that a medication currently used to treat a particular form of lung cancer might be useful in dealing with a more common variant of the disease.
The results of their study were published in the American Journal of Cancer Research.
Lung Cancer: The Silent Killer
Lung cancer is known as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Of these cases, non-small cell lung cancer accounts for roughly 80% to 85%.
This type of cancer is most commonly associated with mutations in two genes, KRAS and EGFR.
Unfortunately, most cases of lung cancer with these mutations become resistant to the usual treatments, making the need for alternative therapies more urgent.
The Power of Crizotinib
The drug in question is crizotinib, also known by its brand name, Xalkori. Initially, this drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat lung cancer cases expressing ALK mutations.
However, the Kentucky-based research team discovered that crizotinib might be effective at stopping the growth of non-small cell lung cancer with KRAS or EGFR mutations.
This breakthrough came about when the team was going through a library of over 1,300 FDA-approved compounds.
Their aim was to find drugs capable of killing lung cancer cells with KRAS and EGFR mutations. Among these, crizotinib stood out as a potential candidate.
Interestingly, crizotinib works by boosting the secretion of a tumor suppressor protein known as Par-4. This protein plays a crucial role in preventing tumor growth.
It was first discovered by Vivek Rangnekar, the principal investigator of the study, back in 1993 in prostate tissue. Over the years, more research has confirmed Par-4’s role in inhibiting cancer growth.
The Potential Impact on Patient Care
The implications of this study are significant, according to Dr. Rangnekar. If further validated through clinical trials, the repurposing of crizotinib could make a substantial difference in patient care.
This approach of reusing safe and approved drugs for subsequent treatments offers an effective way to manage cancer, especially when it becomes resistant to standard therapies.
Furthermore, it minimizes the adverse effects linked with aggressive treatments.
In conclusion, the study provides fresh insights and hope in the ongoing battle against non-small cell lung cancer.
It emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the conventional box and finding new uses for existing treatments. By doing so, we can give patients more options and a better chance at beating this deadly disease.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about a new method to treat cancer effectively, and this low-dose, four-drug combo may block cancer spread.
For more information about cancer prevention, please see recent studies about nutrients in fish that can be a poison for cancer, and results showing this daily vitamin is critical to cancer prevention.
The study was published in the American Journal of Cancer Research.
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