Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – University of East Anglia (UEA) scientists have produced a new drug that is effective against all of the main types of primary bone cancer.
Primary bone cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the bone tissue itself, as opposed to secondary bone cancer, which occurs when cancer cells spread from another part of the body to the bone. Primary bone cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers, and can affect people of all ages, but is more common in children and young adults. The specific treatment plan will depend on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the patient’s age and overall health. Primary bone cancer, mainly affects children.
The scientists pointed out that the present treatment can be intense, with outdated chemotherapy cocktails as well as limb amputations and in spite these, the 5 year survival rate is poor at just 42%, which is mainly as a result of how fast bone cancer spreads to the lungs.
A new study published recently demonstrate the way a new drug known as ‘CADD522’ obstructs a gene linked to the spread of cancer, in mice that were implanted with human bone cancer.
This significant drug can raise survival rate by 50% having no requirement for surgery or chemotherapy, with no toxic side effects such as hair loss, tiredness and sickness associated with chemotherapy.
Lead researcher Dr Darrell Green, from the University of East Anglia, Norwich Medical School, got his inspiration to study childhood bone cancer following his best friend’s death from the disease as a teenager.
Presently, the team has made an extremely significant drug discovery in the field.
Dr Green indicated that Primary bone cancer is the 3rd most common solid childhood cancer, after brain and kidney, with approximately 52,000 new cases each year across the globe.
He further indicated that spread fast to other parts of the body being a key issue with this type of cancer as the cancer spreads it’s harder to treat.
“In high school, my best friend Ben Morley became ill with primary bone cancer. His illness inspired me to do something about it myself because during my studies I realised that this cancer has been all but left behind others in terms of research and treatment progress. So I studied and went through university and obtained my PhD to eventually work in primary bone cancer.
“I wanted to understand the underlying biology of cancer spread so that we can intervene at the clinical level and develop new treatments so that patients won’t have to go through the things my friend Ben went through.”
“Ultimately, we want to save lives and reduce the amount of disability caused by surgery. And now we have developed a new drug that potentially promises to do just that,” said Dr Green.
The researchers gathered bone and tumor samples from 19 patients at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. But this small amount was insufficient to identify some obvious alterations in the cancers.
Researchers applied next generation sequencing for marking of types of genetic regulators known as small RNAs that were different during the course of bone cancer progression.
They further indicated that a gene known as RUNX2 is activated in primary bone cancer and that this gene is linked with leading to the spread of cancer.
The drug is presently being screened for formal toxicology evaluations prior the teams assembling of the complete data and to approach the MHRA for approval for the commencement of a human clinical trial.
The research was led by UEA together with The University of Sheffield, Newcastle University, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, as well as the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
