Washington: A powerful new drug with "unparalleled" strength against deadly forms of a childhood cancer that resist treatment has been identified by researchers.
Building on previous experiences in treating some refractory subtypes of neuroblastoma with the anticancer drug crizotinib, researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have devised new treatments for stubbornly deadly forms of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.
Usually appearing as a solid tumour in the chest or abdomen, neuroblastoma accounts for a disproportionate share of cancer deaths in children despite many recent improvements in therapy.
"Our preclinical results provide a strong rationale for fast-tracking this drug into clinical trials in children with neuroblastoma," said Yael P Mosse, an oncologist at CHOP.
Subsequent research showed that abnormal ALK changes drive approximately 14 per cent of high-risk forms of neuroblastoma.
In children with neuroblastoma, different mutations within the ALK gene respond differently to crizotinib. One particular mutation, labelled F1174L, resisted crizotinib, so the researchers sought a new-generation, more effective ALK inhibitor.
That agent binds more tightly than crizotinib to the signalling kinases that drive cancer.
The researchers showed that PF-06463922 showed more profound inhibition of ALK than crizotinib, and at far lower concentrations.
"The responses we saw in animals were unprecedented in models of ALK-driven neuroblastoma, and bolsters the case for clinical development of this agent for treating children with this subtype of neuroblastoma," said Mosse.
"The drug had very broad potency against a range of ALK mutations, so this could become the ALK inhibitor that is prioritised for frontline therapy in patients with ALK-driven neuroblastoma," she added.
The findings were published in the journal Cancer Discovery.
Building on previous experiences in treating some refractory subtypes of neuroblastoma with the anticancer drug crizotinib, researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have devised new treatments for stubbornly deadly forms of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.
Usually appearing as a solid tumour in the chest or abdomen, neuroblastoma accounts for a disproportionate share of cancer deaths in children despite many recent improvements in therapy.
"Our preclinical results provide a strong rationale for fast-tracking this drug into clinical trials in children with neuroblastoma," said Yael P Mosse, an oncologist at CHOP.
Advertisement
Subsequent research showed that abnormal ALK changes drive approximately 14 per cent of high-risk forms of neuroblastoma.
Advertisement
In children with neuroblastoma, different mutations within the ALK gene respond differently to crizotinib. One particular mutation, labelled F1174L, resisted crizotinib, so the researchers sought a new-generation, more effective ALK inhibitor.
Advertisement
That agent binds more tightly than crizotinib to the signalling kinases that drive cancer.
Advertisement
The researchers showed that PF-06463922 showed more profound inhibition of ALK than crizotinib, and at far lower concentrations.
Advertisement
"The responses we saw in animals were unprecedented in models of ALK-driven neuroblastoma, and bolsters the case for clinical development of this agent for treating children with this subtype of neuroblastoma," said Mosse.
"The drug had very broad potency against a range of ALK mutations, so this could become the ALK inhibitor that is prioritised for frontline therapy in patients with ALK-driven neuroblastoma," she added.
The findings were published in the journal Cancer Discovery.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Woman Mistakes Brain Tumor Symptoms For Hangover And Language Barrier 25-Year-Old Australian Woman Loses Unborn Baby, Dies Days Later After Severe Headaches Management Strategies In Immunotherapy For Cancer Patients World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage At Least 2 Passengers Die As Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails In UP Puja Khedkar's Mother Was Hiding At Lodge With Cab Driver, Used Fake ID Britain Failed By Flawed Planning For Coronavirus Pandemic, Probe Finds Malavika Mohanan's Pastel Saree Perfectly Matched Her Charming Elegance Chartered Accountancy Final Exam Schedule For November Session Out Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.