Glioblastoma is the most common brain cancer in adults. American researchers may have found a cure for this brain cancer.
Each year, approximately 2,400 new cases of glioblastoma are diagnosed in France according to figures given by the Roche laboratory. Generally, the median life expectancy of patients is 15 to 17 months with a five-year survival rate of 5%.
Scientists have discovered that circadian clock proteins – those that control the natural rhythms of the human body – may be involved in the growth and proliferation of this tumor. Thus, they identified a small molecule drug, under the name SHP656, capable of targeting these proteins. The latter could prove effective in treating the disease. “This is a potent molecule that we are excited about in terms of potential deployment against glioblastoma“, rejoiced Professor Steve Kay, of the Keck School of Medicine at USC. These conclusions were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”
Clinical tests
“In the vast majority of patients, the cancer comes back. And when he comes back, he resists chemotherapy and radiation“, explained Professor Kay. According to him, this phenomenon certainly occurs because a small number of “cancer stem cells“are left behind after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These stem cells can multiply and spread very quickly in the body. In a statement, the researchers report that “cancer stem cells hijack the body’s circadian clock machinery, allowing them to spread faster and resist the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapyThis new drug would therefore make it possible to regulate this phenomenon and effectively treat this cancer.
Clinical trials are underway, the scientific team hopes to begin the phase in patients with glioblastoma within two to three years.
VIDEO – Dr Christian Recchia: “It’s the first cancer of all sexes, so we have to think about it”