Scottish scientists have helped discover a way to stop active cancer cells in their tracks – allowing them to then be eliminated by new drug treatments.
A research project between the University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) and Queen Mary University of London has identified chemical compounds, called tool molecules, that can halt active cancer cells.
Using these tool molecules forces tumour cells from a specific type of breast cancer into a pro-senescence state – similar to a sleep-like state, where they can no longer divide or cause tumour growth.
Read more: Cancer study reveals lower Scotland treatment levels
This condition makes the cancer cells sensitive to a second group of tool molecules, called senolytic drugs, which can eliminate them. It may also ‘uncloak’ the cancer cells, making them visible to the body’s immune system, offering further therapeutic opportunities.
Researchers developed this ‘two-punch’ method while looking at basal-like breast cancer (BLBC).
A team funded by Barts Charity, and led by Cleo Bishop, professor of senescence at Queen Mary University of London, uncovered a pathway to force BLBC cells into pro-senescence.
They then collaborated with the team based at the University of Dundee’s DDU to develop tool molecules to promote senescence within the cells.
Drug treatments to deliver the ‘second punch’ of cell elimination are currently being developed elsewhere.
Professor Bishop said: “At present, the most common treatments for BLBC are surgery and unsophisticated chemotherapy regimens.
“Consequently, the lack of possible targets for tailored therapies and the aggressive clinical course means that women with BLBC have a particularly poor prognosis.
“Pro-senescence therapies activate a stable cell cycle arrest halting tumour growth, trigger anti-tumour immune responses and expose cancers to novel treatment regimes called senolyitcs.”
Read more: Cancer causing chemical used 200 times by fish farming industry
This research utilised high-content imaging to identify the tool molecules from DDU’s diversity libraries, which have now been selected by pharmaceutical company ValiRx for further evaluation.
The University of Dundee has this month signed a five-year agreement with the company, which focuses on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women’s health.
Charlotte Green, head of business development at the University of Dundee’s DDU, said: “The one-two punch approach has gained lots of interest in recent years but currently there is no clinical precedent, by moving the project forward with ValiRx we are leading the way in translating the research to the clinic.”
The pro-senescent ‘first punch’ tool molecules are the first to enter into a 12 month evaluation phase under this agreement and if successful, could result in a new company being established as a joint venture with all three parties.
ValiRx CEO Dr Suzy Dilly said: “The strength of the DDU and research facilities at Dundee are very impressive, and having reviewed multiple projects from teams there over the past year, we believe that this evaluation agreement will be the first of a series of new projects that can be brought into our pipeline.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here