The combination of two drugs shows very promising results in the treatment of neuroblastoma. Researchers from the Biomolecular Medicine department have discovered this. The key to the new treatment lies with an existing drug, Triapine.
Neuroblastoma is a rare but serious cancer that mainly affects babies and children. A malignant cancerous tumor develops on a nerve node, for example in the abdomen near the adrenal gland. Cancer cells spread throughout the body via blood and lymphatic vessels. Triapine has an inhibitory effect on the production of DNA building blocks, making the tumor cells extra sensitive to another drug, Prexasertib. The neuroblastoma cells respond very strongly to the combination of Triapine and Prexasertib, even at low concentrations and in both cell culture and animal experiments.
A European collaboration is therefore underway to evaluate the new treatment strategy in children with neuroblastoma. Other types of childhood cancer may also be better treated with the drug in the future. The UGent researchers have also discovered a biological mechanism that is specific for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, namely the increased production of DNA that causes the cancer cells to grow faster. Existing medication is insufficient for a good recovery.
The research was carried out in collaboration with the Dutch Princes Máxima Child Cancer Center and the American Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and was realized with financial support from Kom op tegen Kanker, the Olivia Fund, Kinderkankerfonds, Stichting tegen Kanker and Villa Joep fonds.
Publicatie: RRM2 enhances MYCN driven neuroblastoma formation and acts as a synergistic target with CHK1 inhibition. Nunes C, Depestel L, …. , Durinck K, Speleman F. Science Advances 13 July 2022 – vol 8, issue 28 – DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1382
Contact
Frank Speleman
Department of Biomolecular Medicine
Kate Durinck
Department of Biomolecular Medicine
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