Scientists at the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles have made a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. They have developed a revolutionary drug, codenamed AOH1996 after nine-year-old Anna Olivia Healy who passed away from cancer in 2005, that has the potential to kill all solid cancer tumors without harming healthy cells.
The drug targets a protein called proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is present in most cancers and helps tumors grow and multiply. Previously, PCNA was believed to be “undruggable.” However, after 20 years of research and development, the scientists at City of Hope have successfully created a medication that effectively combats various types of cancer cells derived from breast, prostate, brain, ovarian, cervical, skin, and lung cancer.
The drug works by preventing cells with damaged DNA from dividing and reproducing faulty DNA, which leads to cancer cell death. This process, known as apoptosis, selectively kills cancer cells while leaving healthy stem cells unharmed. The results of the drug’s effectiveness have been promising in laboratory tests, and it is currently being tested on humans in a Phase 1 clinical trial at City of Hope.
Dr. Linda Malkas, who leads the research team, explained that the drug disrupts DNA replication and repair specifically in cancer cells. PCNA in cancer cells has unique alterations that allowed the scientists to design a drug targeting only this form of the protein. She compared the drug to a snowstorm that shuts down a major airline hub, stopping all flights carrying cancer cells.
The development of this groundbreaking cancer treatment brings hope that a cure for cancer may be within reach in the next decade. President Joe Biden has also made cancer research a key goal, with his Cancer Moonshot operation aiming to reduce the cancer death rate by half in the next 25 years.
The researchers behind the drug are now focused on replicating their findings in human trials and improving the ongoing clinical trial. The ultimate goal is to develop more personalized and targeted cancer medicines based on a better understanding of the mechanism of action of AOH1996.
The City of Hope Hospital has a history of groundbreaking translational research, including the development of synthetic human insulin and monoclonal antibodies used in lifesaving cancer drugs. This new drug, AOH1996, is another milestone in their mission to revolutionize cancer treatment.
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