New cancer treatment for PTEN-deficient tumor was discovered. PTEN is a protein and an essential tumor suppressor that stops cell growth and cell division according to the needs of the body.
The new medical and cancer treatment approach was discovered by group of researchers at the University of Cincinnati. The study was headed by David Plas, PhD and Harold W. Huffman from Endowed Chair for Glioblastoma Experimental Therapeutics.
According to Science Daily, Plas' recent studies showed that inhibiting the production and function of the protein S6K1 results to the elimination of PTEN-deficient glioblastoma cells. Glioblastoma is the most malignant and aggressive form of brain cancer. The recent study was conducted using experimental therapeutics in human cancer cells and in tumor models.
Together with the Huffman Foundation, the research team conducted a biochemical analysis in targeting S6K1. Through the biochemical results and computational analysis the researchers discovered that there are other chances that can be done to induce the elimination of PTEN-deficient tumors. These chances can be done together with the S6K1 targeting.
Meanwhile, NCBI tackled the mechanisms of the functional loss of PTEN. PTEN-deficient tumors are a true challenge in cancer treatment. The function and expression is surrounded by several factors such as; germline and somatic mutations, genomic deletion, epigenetic and transcriptional silencing, post- transcriptional regulation, and protein interactions.
By utilizing the new information, Plas and his team tested drug combinations to eliminate PTEN-deficient tumors. The results showed that drugs LY-2779964 and BMS-777607 may work together to eliminate cancers that lacks PTEN.
The discovery of the two drugs is a new combination in cancer treatment, Plas stated. Futhermore, Plas recommends that academic and industry researchers could use their new data to further investigate S6K1 as the center of new combination therapy for tumors in brain, blood, and other tissues.
The newly discovered combination is subject to future work to further investigate the safety and efficacy. Researchers plan to conduct a clinical trial after extensive assessment and investigation. Plas added that patients with glioblastoma desperately need a cure and the new combination of drugs can be a "game-changer" in cancer treatment.
