March Biosciences’ Post

Chromosome translocations have been associated with human malignancy (mainly blood leukemia like CML and Philadelphia chromosomes) for a long time. Soft tissue human sarcomas have also been characterized by such chromosome abnormalities or fusions. See- Targeting fusion oncoproteins in childhood cancers: challenges and future opportunities for developing therapeutics Sharad K Verma, PhD, Keren L Witkin, PhD, Anu Sharman, PhD, Malcolm A Smith, MD, PhD-JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 116, Issue 7, July 2024, Pages 1012–1018, https://lnkd.in/daRxd6mg Fusion oncoproteins are associated with childhood cancers and have proven challenging to target, aside from those that include kinases. As part of its efforts for targeting childhood cancers, the National Cancer Institute recently conducted a series on Novel Chemical Approaches for Targeting Fusion Oncoproteins. Key learnings on leading platforms and technologies that can be used to advance the development of molecular therapeutics that target fusion oncoproteins in childhood cancers are described. Recent breakthroughs in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology provide new ground and creative strategies to exploit for the development of targeted agents for improving outcomes against these recalcitrant cancers? Recurrent chromosomal translocations that produce fusion oncoproteins are a hallmark of selected cancers, particularly among those associated with childhood, and many are pathognomonic of specific cancer types. These translocations generate fusions of normal genes that encode novel proteins that acquire oncogenic function, often by dysregulating protein complexes that control gene expression or chromatin state, thus altering developmental programs that lead to transformation of the unique cell of origin for each cancer. Over the past 2 decades, there have been some clear success stories in improving outcomes in pediatric and adolescent and young adult cancers. For example, mortality in the United States for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma declined by approximately 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively, between 2000 and 2022. These successes at least partially result from the availability of new therapeutic agents for these cancers. However, new active agents are lacking for other childhood-associated cancers, such as soft tissue sarcomas like rhabdomyosarcoma (frequently driven by the PAX3/7::FOXO1 gene fusion), bone cancers like Ewing sarcoma (frequently driven by the EWSR1::FLI1 gene fusion) and osteosarcoma, and many types of childhood brain tumors. In these cancers that lack new therapeutic approaches, similar declines in mortality have not been observed and patients continue to be treated with toxic chemotherapy and radiation, leading to substantial acute and long-term morbidity. Improving outcomes for recalcitrant cancers like these requires the development of new active drugs

In a monumental leap forward in cancer therapeutics, Defence Therapeutics unveils a groundbreaking achievement with AccuTOX®. This advanced formulation, strategically designed to target lung-established tumours, marks a significant milestone in the relentless battle against cancer. AccuTOX®, an optimised derivative of the Accum® molecule, has showcased remarkable therapeutic properties, demonstrating its efficacy across various murine and human cancer cell lines. This breakthrough promises a paradigm shift in cancer treatment methodologies, heralding hope for patients grappling with diverse forms of the disease. Find out more below. #LungCancer #CancerTreatment #CancerResearch https://bit.ly/41Upnrr

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a promising approach in cancer treatment, offering targeted delivery of potent drugs to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. However, challenges remain in optimizing their efficacy and tolerability. At Zymeworks, our researchers are developing next-generation #ADCs designed to achieve robust anti-tumor activity. Advances in technology and understanding of ADCs offer opportunities to improve their efficacy and tolerability, both as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer treatments. The coordinated design and optimization of ADCs holds promise for providing clinical benefits to cancer patients, and the potential for a positive outcome. Learn more in this article from BioSpace authored by our Chief Scientific Officer Paul Moore, PhD: https://lnkd.in/e44Y5y9s #AACR24

Could CAR macrophage therapy be the missing piece to the cold tumor puzzle?🧩 Immunotherapy has been highly successful in cancer care, especially in the area of blood cancer. However, solid tumors have remained a real challenge for the traditional approaches such as checkpoint inhibitors or CAR-T cell therapies.🧫 This is where CAR-M comes in. With Carisma Therapeutics at the forefront, this approach is already showing great promise in oncology. The potential of macrophages could very well go beyond this field! 💡 Read more about it in our latest article! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dhJqgMxU #Biotech #Biopharma #CancerResearch #SolidTumors #CancerTreatment #Immunotherapy #Oncology Moderna | University of Pennsylvania | Steven Kelly | Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center | Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) | University City Science Center | The Wistar Institute

We’re thrilled to share that ProteinQure, in collaboration with Dr. David Cescon’s Lab at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Our development of a novel Peptide Drug Conjugate (PDC) has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness across a range of patient-derived mouse models. Leveraging advanced computational methods, ProteinQure has crafted a tumor-targeting PDC that pairs a novel peptide with a potent chemotherapeutic agent, showcasing remarkable antitumor activity, even in chemoresistant cancers. This achievement paves the way for our lead program to progress into IND-enabling studies and clinical trials and its result will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Stay tuned for further details from the AACR presentation on April 9, 2024. We are grateful for the support from National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada & INOVAIT Canada. #AACR2024 #BreastCancerResearch #ComputationalDrugDesign #InnovationInHealthcare #ProteinQure #PeptideTherapeutics https://tinyurl.com/PQInc

PAC-1, a drug originally developed by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, induces programmed cell death in cancer cells. Notably, it halted tumor growth in five participants with neuroendocrine cancers, with two of these patients experiencing tumor size reduction. The drug also showed therapeutic activity against sarcomas, according to a report in the British Journal of Cancer. #CancerTreatment #Chemotherapy #ClinicalTrial #DrArkadiuszDudek #Minnesota #NeuroendocrineTumors #PAC1 #Oncology #MedicalResearch #CancerResearch #NewTherapies #HealthInnovation #TumorTreatment #CancerCare #MedicalAdvancements

🚀 Unveiling a Game-Changer in Cancer Therapy! 🚀 Bill Tansey's lab is pushing boundaries with a groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment. Their recent work targets a key protein, WDR5, pivotal in cancer cell growth. By honing in on a specific site within WDR5, the newly developed WINi inhibitors show promising results against several cancer types in early testing. This innovative approach not only halts cancer cell proliferation but triggers a cascade leading to cell death. With potential clinical trials on the horizon, this breakthrough could redefine cancer treatment strategies and offer new hope where current therapies fall short. #CancerResearch #InnovationInMedicine #Healthcare #WINi 🧬💊

💡 Exciting breakthroughs in ovarian cancer treatment are on the horizon! Poly-adenosine ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a key component in cancer therapy, targeting a protein essential for repairing damaged DNA and preventing cancer cells from fixing themselves after chemotherapy. Despite their potential, these treatments can cause severe side effects and require dose reductions, which may compromise their efficacy. 🌟 New research from Moffitt Cancer Center demonstrates through mathematical modelling and in vitro experiments that PARP inhibitor therapy can be fine-tuned to align with the unique dynamics of a patient's tumour. The study's lead author notes, "Our findings suggest that modulation, rather than skipping doses, can halve the amount of drug used while maintaining its effectiveness. This approach reduces toxicity and can potentially delay the development of resistance." Moffitt's strategy not only improves treatment precision but also provides a more personalised and effective option for ovarian cancer patients, enhancing their prospects for better outcomes and quality of life. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eK_uJGHw #OvarianCancer #CancerResearch #PersonalisedMedicine #PARPInhibitors #BreakthroughTherapies

🔬 University of Toronto Unveils Chemotherapy Breakthrough Researchers at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, including Tajinder Ubhi, have identified two enzymes, APOBEC3C and APOBEC3D, that limit the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine in treating pancreatic cancer. 🎯 Key Insights: ➡️ Discovery could lead to enhanced treatments for one of the deadliest cancers. ➡️ Targeting these enzymes may increase gemcitabine's efficacy. 📖 Published in Nature Portfolio Cancer, this study marks a promising advance in cancer therapy. 🔗 Explore the full article for more details. https://ow.ly/78hA50QXb32 #CancerResearch #Chemotherapy #HealthcareInnovation

First Ascent Biomedical shares data for new AI cancer screening platform Jim Foote, CEO and co-founder of First Ascent Biomedical told Clinical Trials Arena: “The most striking finding was the clinical outcomes when the FPM data was used to guide treatment. In our study, 83% of patients guided by FPM data received clear clinical benefit: their cancer either shrinking or becoming undetectable (partial or complete response), and 83% also performed better on their study treatment compared to their prior treatment, which is a routinely used measure of success in precision cancer medicine studies. While both these findings are what we expected, it is exciting to see such a promising signal from our first clinical study.” - https://lnkd.in/dPZz-rxt #clinicaltrials #aiinhealthcare #cancerscreening