Triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer, is under attack. Adelaide University researchers, led by Dr. Theresa Hinkey, report that unlike chemotherapy, the pill only targets cancer cells, according to The American Cancer Society.
It derives the name “triple negative breast cancer” (TNBC) as it lacks three receptors as opposed to lacking one receptor in other cancers. This causes TNBC to be the most aggressive form of cancer. In other cancers it signals these receptors causing the cancer to grow. Because TNBC lacks these receptors, standard hormone-based treatments prove ineffective, making the disease particularly difficult to treat.
Breakthrough: The CDDD11-8 Drug is Found to Halt the Growth of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
A breakthrough in triple negative breast cancer has occurred due to a new drug that slows the growth of cancer in lab animals. Australian scientists identified an approved method of treating the most aggressive type of breast cancer. This is a major step from chemotherapy. The new drug avoids healthy cells in breast tissue and slows or kills the growth of cancerous cells.
The drug is an oral medicine that targets cancer which has spread within the body (metastasized). The survival rate for this cancer is 91%. However, that number drops to 12 percent if the cancer spreads to other areas in the body. Intensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy are currently the only options available to treat this cancer yet there is still a chance of the patient relapsing within five years. CDDD11-8 offers hope where other treatments have fallen short.
Dr. Theresa Hinkey, a breast cancer expert at Adelaide University, was the lead person for the experiment. The goal is to create a drug that will have a positive effect on patient survival. It was originally developed as a treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia, but researchers recognized its potential application in treating TNBC.
Cyclin Dependent Kinases: The Science Behind the Solution
Dysregulation of cyclin dependent kinases has been associated with the formation of tumors. To date, the FDA has not approved any drug that would be capable of preventing the formation of tumors with the exception of one drug that has exhibited certain clinical benefits. CDDD11-8 represents a promising new candidate in this field.
Credit was given to South Australia University researchers for their work in the development of CDDD11-8 in 2022. The drug has proven to inhibit CDK9. When tested on lab models it inhibited the growth of tumors. Dr. Hinkey acknowledged that the trials are still in the early stages but disclosed that as aforesaid, after being tested on animal models CDK9 inhibited the growth of tumors.
Judging by the success of CDDD11-8, Dr. Hinkey believes CDK9 may be an effective treatment for TNBC and continued development is warranted. Dr. Hinkey and her team believe that the process would work for other aggressive cancers with respect to transcription which is defined as reproducing genetic instructions into RNA molecules. This aids in controlling protein production. When compared to healthy cells transcription is generally not controlled resulting in rapid growth.
The researchers believe that the CDK9 pathway is a target that should be considered as it appears that healthy cells do not rely on it for survival. This selectivity is crucial to minimizing side effects while maximizing cancer cell elimination.
Early Trial Results Show Promise
In initial experiments, when this novel drug was administered to cell-line models of triple-negative breast cancer, researchers noticed a reduction in cancer growth with varying degrees of success depending on the dosage. Mice treated with oral medicine showed shrunken tumors and reduced protein expression minus the adverse effects on vital organs. These encouraging results suggest the drug’s potential effectiveness in living organisms.
CDDD11-8 appears to work on humans. Testing its effects on patient-derived breast cancer tissue the team found encouraging signs of success without toxic side effects on healthy cells. However, it requires further testing according to Dr. Hinkey. As the research progresses, patients and clinicians alike await the results of the next phase of clinical trials with optimism.
