14
March
2016
|
16:00
Europe/London
HIV drug could stop skin cancer becoming drug-resistant
treatedcancercells.jpg
AN HIV DRUG could stop one of the early changes in skin cancer cells that leads to them becoming resistant to treatment, according to a Cancer Research UK-funded study published in Cancer Cell* today (Monday).
The researchers looked at melanoma skin cancers from 11 patients who had started standard treatment for the cancer**. They found that the cancer cells used a molecular switch to temporarily rewire themselves to become more able to withstand the drugs in the first two weeks of treatment, and then went on to develop permanent resistance through genetic changes.
The HIV drug, called nelfinavir, works by blocking the molecular switch which boosts cells’ ability to survive treatment. The research, carried out in mice, suggests that nelfinavir could be used in combination with standard skin cancer treatments to make them more potent and delay drug resistance, making available treatments effective for a longer period of time.
“
In the first few weeks of standard treatment for skin cancer, the cancer cells become stronger and more robust against treatment. But if we can target skin cancer cells before they become fully resistant, we would have a much better chance of blocking their escape. And we think this research has brought us one step closer to making this a reality.
Professor Claudia Wellbrock
„
Professor Claudia Wellbrock, lead author from The University of Manchester, said: “In the first few weeks of standard treatment for skin cancer, the cancer cells become stronger and more robust against treatment.
“But if we can target skin cancer cells before they become fully resistant, we would have a much better chance of blocking their escape. And we think this research has brought us one step closer to making this a reality.”
Professor Nic Jones, Director of Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute, said: “Melanoma can be difficult to treat because the cancer becomes resistant to drugs quite quickly. But this exciting research means we might be able to fight back by blocking the first steps towards resistance, so that treatments are effective for longer.
“While drug resistance is a big challenge, we’re making great progress. Drug resistance in late stage skin cancer is still a big problem and something we need to tackle. We’ve seen big steps forward recently with the development of immunotherapies but this exciting approach could stop skin cancer developing resistance at an earlier point.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The image shows a group of cancer cells that have been treated with a drug targeting the MAPK pathway. The red cells (and yellow areas) are dying, the green cells are still alive.
For media enquiries please contact Fiona Dennehy on 020 3469 8300 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.
Or:
Mike Addelman, Media Relations Officer, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk, 0161 275 2111, 07717 881567
*Smith et al., Inhibiting drivers of non-mutational drug-tolerance is a salvage strategy for targeted melanoma therapy. Cancer Cell, 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.02.003.
**The researchers analysed melanomas from 11 patients undergoing treatment with vemurafenib or a dabrafenib and trametinib combination which are FDA approved. NICE recommends vemurafenib as a possible treatment for metastatic melanoma. Dabrafenib and trametenib combination treatment is under review by NICE and a result is expected in August 2016.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.