New Drug Enhances Chemotherapy Effectiveness By Disabling Tumor Defenses
Researchers from King’s College London have developed a groundbreaking drug, KCL-HO-1i, that could significantly boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancer treatment. This novel approach specifically targets a protein produced by macrophages, a type of white blood cell that acts as a shield for tumors.
Macrophages, although part of the immune system, can form a protective barrier around tumors, preventing beneficial immune cells and chemotherapy drugs from reaching their target. These cells produce a protein known as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which allows tumors to resist chemotherapy. KCL-HO-1i is engineered to block this protein, thereby breaking down these defenses.
In preclinical studies, the drug has shown promising results in making chemotherapy-resistant cancers more responsive to treatment. According to Professor James Arnold, head of the Tumour Immunology Group at King’s College London, targeting the enzyme produced by macrophages with KCL-HO-1i could help chemotherapy drugs work more effectively. "Even chemotherapy-resistant tumors became responsive to treatment, which is a really exciting step forward," he noted.
Unlike traditional treatments, KCL-HO-1i is designed to be taken at home, offering a more convenient option for patients who often endure long hospital visits. This could greatly ease the treatment journey for many cancer patients.
Supported by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council, early tests using mouse models of breast cancer have demonstrated that tumors became more receptive to various chemotherapy drugs. These findings suggest the potential for KCL-HO-1i to be used across different types of cancers.
The team, which includes Professor James Spicer and Professor Miraz Rahman, hopes to proceed to clinical trials within two years, given adequate funding. Professor Spicer commented, "Chemotherapy remains a key part of treatment for many patients with cancer, but too often it is not as effective or long-lasting as we might like. This research has identified a key reason for these limitations, and discovered a drug that we are keen to test in the clinic alongside established chemotherapy drugs."
This promising development marks a significant step in cancer treatment, offering hope for more effective therapies.