City of Hope, a top US cancer research organization, has unveiled exciting results from a study focusing on a groundbreaking pill that could fight various forms of cancer.
This experimental drug, AOH1996, works by targeting a once “untouchable” protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
What Makes AOH1996 Special?
Traditional cancer treatments usually target one specific pathway in cancer cells. This approach often leads to the cancer finding ways around the treatment, becoming drug-resistant over time.
But AOH1996 is different. Linda Malkas, a lead scientist behind the research, compares PCNA to a bustling airport hub.
In cancer cells, PCNA undergoes specific changes, which have allowed the researchers to design a drug that only targets the altered version of PCNA in these cells.
AOH1996 is akin to a snowstorm that shuts down all flight operations, but only for planes (or cells) that are cancerous.
The results? The pill seems to halt the growth of a variety of tumors in early-stage research without causing harm to the surrounding body.
How Does AOH1996 Work?
The experimental drug has been tested in over 70 cancer cell types. In simple terms, it disrupts the normal growth and division of cancer cells.
The drug specifically targets situations where the cell’s gene expression and duplication mechanisms crash into each other.
By intervening in this process, AOH1996 prevents damaged cancer cells from multiplying. The good news? It leaves healthy cells untouched.
The unique method of AOH1996 also seems to make cancer cells more vulnerable to other treatments. This means it could potentially be combined with other drugs, making treatments even more effective.
What’s Next for AOH1996?
Currently, AOH1996 is in its first phase of human clinical trials at City of Hope. The organization has exclusive rights to the drug and has even licensed it to a biotech firm co-founded by Malkas.
While the initial results are promising, more research is needed. The team at City of Hope is keen to delve deeper into understanding how the drug works.
Their ultimate goal? To create tailor-made, precise cancer treatments that offer hope to countless patients.
Conclusion: Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases of our time. But with innovations like AOH1996, the future looks a bit brighter.
As City of Hope and its team of experts continue their research, the world waits in anticipation of a revolutionary treatment that could change the face of cancer care.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that mammograms over-diagnose 1 in 7 breast cancers in the U.S, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about sweeteners linked to increased cancer risk, and results showing new way to supercharge cancer-fighting T cells.
The study was published in Cell Chemistry Biology.
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