Novel Drug Restricts Child Cancer Growth by 75 Pct

A novel drug that a research team has been working on may be able to reduce the growth of neuroblastoma(a childhood brain cancer) by a whopping 75 percent.

A study, conducted with human neuroblastoma cells transplanted into mice, showed how 3-BrOP, a glycolysis inhibitor, starved the cancer cells to death by shutting down their main energy source, glucose.

Treatment of Neuroblastoma in Near Future?
Researchers in Australia have identified a potential new target for treatment of neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumour among young children.

"We found that neuroblastoma cells, unlike healthy cells, are highly dependent on glycolysis for energy instead of more efficient means of energy production," said Alejandro Levy, M.D., fellow at the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

"Glycolysis is a process that breaks down sugar for energy, so by blocking that process with 3-BrOP, we are able to keep the tumors from producing energy, and this disrupts their ability to grow," Levy added.

Pre-clinically, 3-BrOP has already been proven effective against other cancers including glioblastoma, colon cancer, lymphoma and acute leukemia. A Phase I clinical trial is planned to open this year for adult patients.

Substance from Plant Pathogen Fights Neuroblastoma
Scientists at German Cancer Research centre have found a substance that could treat neuroblastoma, a tumor of the nervous system in children.

Patrick Zweidler-McKay, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at the Children's Cancer Hospital and senior investigator of the study, said: "As we explore alternative options to standard chemotherapy agents, we are finding drugs, like 3-BrOP, that have the potential to destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed."

"These drugs can often enhance the efficacy of other treatments, potentially leading to more successful combinations and better outcomes for our young patients," Zweidler-McKay added.

The Bottleneck in Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma typically occurs as a solid tumor in the abdomen, but also in the neck, chest, and pelvis, developing in the network of the body's sympathetic nervous system.

The pre-clinical study was presented today in the plenary session at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society of Paediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Source-ANI
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Biomarker Associated With Poor Outcome in Aggressive Childhood Cancer
Results from a new study identify a biomarker that may be useful for predicting the outcome of treatment for neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children.