New mesothelioma drug turns cancer’s own defenses against it
Scientists are testing a counterintuitive way to fight mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos-linked cancer with few effective treatments. A new experimental mesothelioma drug kills cancer cells by disabling PRX3, an antioxidant defense that tumors use to survive intense oxidative stress. In an early clinical trial, it controlled disease progression in 67% of patients and produced encouraging…
Mesothelioma, an uncommon and aggressive cancer often related to asbestos exposure, mostly affects individuals who have worked in industries such as shipbuilding, oil refining, and asbestos manufacturing. With around 30,000 new cases diagnosed annually globally, the disease has limited treatment options, with immunotherapy and chemotherapy providing some relief but not curing the condition. Patients typically live for about 12 months, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 10 percent.
New research from the University of Vermont (UVM) and an international team of collaborators reveals a novel approach for treating mesothelioma, potentially applicable to other forms of cancer as well. The researchers discovered that blocking peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3), an antioxidant enzyme inside tumor cells, could trigger oxidative stress, ultimately leading to cancer cell death.
The experimental drug, developed by RS Oncology and based on thiostrepton, a naturally occurring antibiotic, was well-tolerated in a phase one clinical trial. The drug led to a 67% reduction in disease progression and tumor shrinkage in some patients, with critically ill participants living longer than those receiving standard treatments.
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