08
May
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UK scientists discovered why a treatment for ovarian cancer only works in half the patients.
The drug paclitaxel inhibits ovarian tumors, but researchers at the University of Cambridge found that patients who have a deficit in a specific type of protein tend to be immune to its effects.
The Cancer Research UK, which funded the study along with the Medical Research Council said that this finding will help the drug to be provided to those who may benefit from it.
Paclitaxel belongs to the family of drugs called taxanes, taken from the yew tree Taxaceae the family.
Researchers from Cambridge Research Institute examined cancer cells from 20 patients.
They found that those who did not respond to paclitaxel
had lower levels of a protein called TGFBI in samples taken before treatment.
Further analysis revealed that the rate of destruction of cancer cells was higher after treatment in people with high levels of TGFBI.
Personalized Medicine
The lead researcher, Dr James Brenton said: "TGFBI is not in one third of cases of primary ovarian cancer and it is possible that this protein may be used as a biomarker to select patients likely to respond to this class of drugs. "
This approach means that personalized medicine will be most effective treatments with fewer contraindications
Herbie Newell, Cancer Research UK
"Our findings offer hope not just to improve the treatment of ovarian cancer may also help improve the success rate of other taxane used against lung cancer and breast cancer."
Dr Ahmed Ashour Ahmed, who also participated in the study, said: "Our work reveals that some proteins that surround cancer cells such as TGFBI send messages to microtubules, the backbone of the cell, sensitizing them to paclitaxel."
"Cracking the code under which these messages are sent will enable the discovery of new treatments that will simulate the coded messages, leading to a significant improvement in reaction to paclitaxel," he added.
Professor Herbie Newell, Cancer Research UK, said: "This approach means that personalized medicine will be most effective treatments with fewer contraindications."
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