ERX-41 against cancer

New compound kills intractable cancers

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

Scientists have developed a drug that effectively targets the vulnerable spots of tumor cells. In preclinical studies, it has been shown to be effective against aggressive breast, pancreatic, brain and other types of tumors.

Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas has synthesized a new anti-cancer compound ERX-41, which targets a wide range of intractable types of tumors. ERX-41 kills only tumor cells and does not harm healthy ones.

The drug acts by binding to the LIPA protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum, which performs many functions necessary for cell survival. Blocking this mechanism disrupts the organelle and ultimately leads to cell death.

At the first stage, ERX-41 was tested against breast cancer, including triple negative breast cancer — the most aggressive and difficult to treat type of tumor. The drug targeted only cancer cells and was much better at killing triple negative breast cancer cells. In laboratory mice after experimental treatment, scientists did not find any side effects.

They then confirmed the effectiveness of ERX-41 against pancreatic, ovarian and glioblastoma cancers.

Today, these types of tumors are extremely difficult to treat and have a low prognosis of five-year survival.

Now the team is preparing to conduct clinical trials, which it plans to launch early next year.

Article by Liu et al. Targeting LIPA independent of its lipase activity is a therapeutic strategy in solid tumors via induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress published in the journal Nature Cancer – VM.

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