News — Researchers at the have identified a promising target for treating glioblastoma, one that appears to avoid many of the obstacles that typically frustrate efforts to develop effective treatments for this deadliest of cancers.
Glioblastomas are the most common form of brain tumor in adults 鈥� and the most aggressive. Because of the way the tumors invasively infiltrate the brain, spreading like ivy, they cannot be removed fully by surgery. There is no cure, and few patients survive more than two to three years even with aggressive treatment.
The UVA researchers, however, have identified a potential target they believe is essential to the glioblastoma cells. This vital enzyme, they believe, regulates cancer cell survival, proliferation, and tumor formation. Inhibit the enzyme, their work suggests, and the cancer cell dies.
鈥淭his is an exciting new target in cancer,鈥� said UVA鈥檚 . 鈥淚t seems to have potential not just for brain tumors but for other cancers as well. We think it has activity on its own, but also in combination with other cancer therapies.鈥�
Glioblastoma, melanomaGlioblastoma is difficult to treat because it is persistent, aggressive and resourceful. Efforts to block its pathways are often unsuccessful because the cancer simply uses others. That has researchers looking for ways to inhibit multiple pathways at once, or targeting critical signaling nodes that control multiple pathways.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finding that we鈥檙e not having a lot of luck, often, when we just inhibit a single target in cancer cells, so we鈥檙e really interested in finding targets specific targets that control many pathways to cancer,鈥� Purow explained. And he thinks he鈥檚 found one: Diacylglycerol kinase alpha. By targeting this lipid-modifying enzyme, the UVA researchers believe, they can inhibit and kill glioblastoma cells and other forms of cancer, such as melanoma.
A drug in handPromisingly, the researchers already have identified a drug that targets the enzyme. The federal Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved its use, but previous tests, when it was being evaluated for other purposes, have suggested the compound is safe for use in people.
鈥淲e think we have at least an initial way into patients,鈥� Purow said. 鈥淲e may ultimately want to come up with more powerful inhibitors, or more targeted inhibitors of DGK伪, and I think those will be some future directions鈥攂ut there are a lot of exciting ways we鈥檙e going with this.鈥�
Developing new treatmentsFor now, the UVA researchers will continue to explore their new discovery, investigating it further and ensuring safety before testing it in humans. But they have a drug compound in hand should speed the process, Purow said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping we can start doing phase I trials in people within a couple of years,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a realistic time frame. I鈥檇 couch that by saying that鈥檚 our goal 鈥� but we think that鈥檚 feasible.鈥�
Purow emphasized that the UVA discovery isn鈥檛 a cure for glioblastoma or other cancers. But he said it might prove to be a formidable new 鈥渢ool in the toolbox鈥� to complement existing treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
鈥淲e鈥檙e optimistic that this may have an impact on cancer course and may help sensitize to other treatments as well,鈥� Purow said. 鈥淚 hope it can make a difference for people.鈥�
Published by Cancer DiscoveryThe findings have been published online by the journal . The article was authored by Charli L. Dominguez, Desiree H. Floyd, Aizhen Xiao, Garrett R. Mullins, Benjamin A. Kefas, Wenjun Xin, Melissa N. Yacur, Roger Abounader, Jae K. Lee, Gabriela Mustata Wilson (of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville), Thurl E. Harris and Purow.
-------------------------------------------------------------- is a . These centers are characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. They play a vital role in advancing towards NCI's goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer.
This piece does not represent the views of the National Institutes of Health.
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