Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported several significant advances in cancer research and treatment. These findings span from novel drug modifications to insights into personalized treatment strategies for various cancers.
Modified NRF2 Activator Reverses Chronic Pain
Oxidative stress is implicated in many chronic diseases, and NRF2 activators are often used as antioxidants to alleviate chronic pain. However, these activators can cause unwanted side effects. Peter Grace, Ph.D., and his team developed a modified NRF2 activator that is released specifically in response to oxidative stress, targeting the drug to the site of disease. In lab models, this modified activator reduced side effects and reversed chronic pain, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit for patients with diseases associated with oxidative stress. The findings were published in Nature Biotechnology.
Canakinumab in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is characterized by ineffective blood cell production, often linked to increased activity in the IL-1β pathway. In a Phase II trial, Juan Jose Rodriguez-Sevilla, M.D., Guillermo Garcia-Manero, M.D., Simona Colla, Ph.D., and colleagues assessed the IL-1β inhibitor canakinumab in 25 previously treated patients with lower-risk MDS. The trial, which included longitudinal single-cell analysis, showed that canakinumab was safe and achieved an overall response rate of 17.4%. The benefits were more pronounced in patients with lower genetic complexity. The study, published in Nature Communications, underscores the importance of patient stratification for targeted therapies.
MicroRNAs and the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in CLL
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that promotes disease progression. Maria Teresa Bertilaccio, Ph.D., and her team investigated the genetic drivers behind this environment. They identified specific microRNAs that affect immune cell behavior around cancer cells, promoting CLL progression and survival. The study, published in Blood Cancer Journal, highlights the potential of microRNAs as targets for personalized treatment strategies.
Chemotherapy Before Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer
Patients with advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a rare head and neck cancer, often face poor outcomes with surgery alone. In a Phase II trial, Ehab Hanna, M.D., and colleagues evaluated induction chemotherapy before surgery in 31 patients with stage II-IV sinonasal SCC. Patients received docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil. The overall response rate was 82.1%, and the median progression-free survival was 25.8 months. At two years, 63% of patients achieved organ preservation. These results, published in Clinical Cancer Research, suggest that pre-surgical induction chemotherapy is a promising treatment approach.
PDX Models for Biliary Tract Cancers
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare and aggressive, making them challenging to study. Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D., and colleagues generated 31 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that accurately reflect the genomic profiles of BTCs. Sequencing analysis identified actionable gene targets, some of which may be targeted with antibody-drug conjugates. The models also showed objective responses to drugs with previous clinical activity. This collection of BTC PDX models, detailed in Clinical Cancer Research, has the potential to advance personalized biomarker-selected treatment strategies.
