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Researchers at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center have found a new possible drug candidate against triple-negative breast cancer. A team of researchers led by Dr. Suresh Alahari has found that a combination of a new inhibitory molecule is extremely active in suppressing triple-negative breast cancer. The researchers have published their findings in the Nature journal named, Oncogene. Dr. Suresh Alahari is a professor of Biochemistry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences.
Breast cancer is the deadliest cancer in females across the world. Generally, breast cancer affects the lining cells of the ducts, measuring almost 85% of the total breast cancer cases. Around 15% of the total breast cancer cases are due to the lining cells of the lobules. When the cancer is present in ducts or lobules, it is almost impossible to notice symptomatically. Only a regular examination of the breasts can help in identifying breast cancer. According to the WHO, around 2.3 million females were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2020. In the same year, around 685,000 deaths were reported due to breast cancer globally.
Generally, cancer is identified using certain receptors. In any cell, there are three types of identifying marks or receptors, which are used for identifying cancer. In triple-negative breast cancer, all three receptors are absent in cancerous cells. Despite this, around 91% of the females diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer stay alive five years after the diagnosis. But in the case of metastasis, this survival rate can drop to as low as 12%. It is much more common in younger females. Around 15-20% of the females suffering from breast cancer have triple-negative breast cancer. But due to the lack of receptors, it is almost impossible to treat the patient suffering from triple-negative breast cancer. Almost all the conventional treatments available against other forms of breast cancer are useless against triple-negative breast cancer.
Cells in triple-negative breast cancer do not possess the three receptors such as estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Because of this, it is harder to use non-aggressive treatments against these cells. Dr. Suresh Alahari stated that the findings of the studies they performed show that the small molecule inhibitor, NSC33353 has antitumor properties against the cells present in triple-negative breast cancer. Along with this, NSC33353 works in good synergy with the available chemotherapeutic agent to provide maximum output, he added.
For their research, the researchers analyzed the collection of molecules that have shown antitumor activities known as the Diversity Set IV by the National Cancer Institute. During the analysis, the team found that the molecule, NSC33353 has sufficient suppression activities against the tumor cells of triple-negative breast cancer. Researchers found that NSC33353 successfully suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion in tumor cells. During its analysis in combination therapy, researchers found that NSC33353 works extremely well with the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin. Doxorubicin and NSC33353 work in perfect synergy to create an additive effect. If this treatment works in the majority of patients, it could be extremely helpful for patients suffering from triple-negative breast cancer.
Yash Ranjan10/18/2022
