Description
Dual-function inhibitor treats cancer, fibrosis
Researchers at UNMC have developed a novel inhibitor that targets two important proteins responsible for promoting fibrotic diseases and cancer development and resistance.
When a drug targets one cellular pathway, other pathways often activate, counteracting the treatment, which could make the cell drug-resistant. On the other hand, combining or mixing different drugs to target more than one pathway might limit the risk of resistance, but the combination could cause toxic side effects. Specifically targeting two pathways with a single drug could be a more effective treatment with minimal risks of increasing drug resistance and potential side effects for the patient.
Treating medulloblastoma cancer cells with the dual-inhibitor slowed cancer cell growth, reduced the cancer’s ability to spread and triggered cancer cell death. Medulloblastoma cells treated with the dual inhibitor in mice slowed the cancer’s growth or shrunk the cancer with no major side effects.
To learn more about this technology, contact Amanda Hawley, PhD, at ahawley@unmc.edu or 402-310-5602.
