Drug against metastases
Despite the abundance of anticancer drugs, there is still not a single approved drug that would prevent cancer metastasis.
A group of researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Northwestern University and their partners have identified a molecule that stops the process of cancer metastasis. The experimental drug metarrestin not only slows down tumor growth and prevents metastasis, but also increases the lifespan of mice.
Metarrestin may be appropriate to prescribe to patients after surgical removal of the tumor. Currently, after surgery, patients most often take chemotherapy drugs – this is how doctors try to destroy cancer cells that could remain in the body and which increase the risk of recurrence and spread of the tumor.
Metarrestin inhibits perinucleolar structures (PNC) of cells – poorly studied subnuclear bodies that are found only in cancer cells. The amount of PNC in tumor cells is directly proportional to the probability of its spread throughout the body. The destruction of PNC may reduce the risk of metastases.
Reduction of the number of perinucleolar structures (marked with arrows) in cancer cells during treatment with metarrestin. Source: Article in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers searched for a compound that would destroy PNC. Of the 140,000 compounds, about 100 showed some effectiveness. As a result, the molecule that turned out to be the most effective was found. On its basis, the drug metarrestin was created, which in vitro blocked the metastasis of prostate and pancreatic cancer.
The result of metarrestin treatment of liver cancer in mice. From above – the liver before treatment; arrows indicate metastases. From below – the liver after treatment. Source: Science Translational Medicine.
Then the effectiveness of the drug was tested on mouse models of pancreatic cancer. Mice treated with metarrestin lived longer than mice in the control group. There were no metastases during treatment.
The authors intend to organize and conduct preclinical studies of metarrestin, and then obtain permission to conduct studies with the participation of patients.
Article by K. J. Frankowski et al. Metarrestin, a perinucleolar compartment inhibitor, effectively suppresses metastasis is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on NIH materials: NIH, Northwestern scientists develop a potential new approach to stop cancer metastasis.