{
  "id": 11149208,
  "title": "The Smac mimetic drug Xevinapant sensitizes triple negative breast cancer to radiotherapy-induced cell death in a TNFα dependent manner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/the-smac-mimetic-drug-xevinapant-sensitizes-triple-negative-breast",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755558v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is notoriously difficult to treat due to its high recurrence rates. Researchers explored the potential of the small molecule Xevinapant (AT406) as a radiosensitizer for TNBC. TNBC cell lines were treated with Xevinapant in the presence and absence of ionizing radiation, and cell viability and apoptosis were assessed. Clonogenic assays confirmed that Xevinapant indeed sensitized the cancer cells to radiation-induced cell death. The effect was heightened when Xevinapant was combined with the TNF cytokine, which has been shown to amplify SM-induced apoptosis. To confirm the mechanism, researchers performed western blotting, flow cytometry, and cell cycle analysis. The results indicate that Xevinapant increases cell death in irradiated TNBC cells, and this radiosensitization is primarily driven by TNF-dependent apoptosis. This promising finding suggests that combining radiation therapy with Xevinapant could improve local control in TNBC patients.",
  "summary": "Purpose: There is an unmet need in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as recurrence rates remain high; thus, novel treatment strategies are warranted to improve outcomes for patients. Smac mimetics (SMs) are small molecules that inhibit the inhibitors of apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the properties of the SM Xevinapant (AT406) as a radiosensitizer in TNBC. Methods:…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}