2023-11-24 13:47:00
Researchers at MedUni Vienna have discovered a new treatment option against skin cancer that is intended to prevent the formation of metastases. The treatment can begin directly where the metastases arise: in the melanoma cells, the university announced in a press release. The study results published in the specialist journal “PNAS” are intended to pave the way for the development of a new class of drugs.
As an extremely aggressive form of skin cancer, cutaneous melanoma continues to be associated with high mortality. Although enormous progress has been made recently in the fight against fatal metastasis, “existing therapeutic measures are still not effective in many cases,” the statement said. Side effects, resistance and limited effectiveness are considered problems.
“In addition, there are still no medications that directly target the ability of melanoma cells to metastasize,” said Wolfgang Weninger and Shweta Tikoo from MedUni’s University Clinic for Dermatology, describing the starting point for their research work. An essential feature of metastasis is the so-called invadopodia. These are cellular structures formed by cancer cells to make it easier for them to invade surrounding tissue. A protein called F-actin is also involved in this process.
With the help of a specially developed, highly complex screening called “Invasion Block”, the researchers examined 4,000 already approved substances for their ability to effectively thwart the invadopodia and F-actins in order to prevent tumor spread. “We identified kinase inhibitors as promising therapeutics,” explained Tikoo. Kinases are enzymes that play a crucial role in signal transmission within cells. Kinase inhibitors are substances that can block certain signaling pathways, for example to curb the excessive growth of cancer cells.
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