When Anna Olivia Healey tragically lost her battle with cancer at the young age of nine, her parents, Steven and Barbara, made a promise to keep her memory alive and work towards finding a cure for this devastating disease. Now, over two decades later, their dream of sparing countless families from the heartbreak they experienced may be coming true. Scientists have recently unveiled the preliminary results of a groundbreaking cancer treatment called AOH1996, named in honor of Anna, which has shown promising results in annihilating various types of solid tumors tested in a lab. Notably, this pill appears to leave healthy cells untouched as well. Although further testing is required to determine its effectiveness in humans, researchers at the prestigious City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles are thrilled by these early findings.
The AOH1996 drug, a type of targeted chemotherapy, specifically targets a protein found in many types of cancer cells that contribute to their growth and multiplication. This protein, known as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), was previously believed to be “undruggable”. However, the researchers have developed a drug that attacks only the mutated form of PCNA present in cancer cells while leaving normal cells unaffected. This drug acts as a “snowstorm” that shuts down the cancer cells’ “airline hub”, preventing them from growing and spreading.
In laboratory tests, AOH1996 has been successfully tested on 70 different types of cancer cells, including breast, prostate, ovarian, and lung cancer. The results, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, have shown its effectiveness across the board. This breakthrough holds immense potential for future cancer treatments, offering hope to countless patients and their families.
The creation of AOH1996 is part of the ongoing efforts of the A.N.N.A. Fund, established by Anna’s parents in 2002. This fund has raised over $500,000 for neuroblastoma research and families affected by the disease. Neuroblastoma, the cancer that Anna battled for five years, is a rare form of childhood cancer that affects approximately 600 children in America each year. Dr. Linda Malkas, an oncologist who became determined to fight this disease after meeting Anna’s father, is leading the research on AOH1996. She has dedicated her work to finding a cure for neuroblastoma since Anna’s passing.
Dr. Malkas initially focused on studying a protein found in breast cancer cells but not normal cells. However, after meeting with Anna’s father and seeing the impact of neuroblastoma firsthand, she shifted her research to tackle this childhood cancer. Mr. Healey’s generous donation of $25,000 to Dr. Malkas’ lab set this life-changing journey in motion.
In 2011, Dr. Malkas joined the City of Hope Hospital with a mission to develop a molecule that targets PCNA, the protein she had previously identified. Success came in the form of AOH1996, which selectively kills cancer cells by disrupting the normal cell reproductive cycle. The ongoing clinical trial in humans is showing promising results, and a phase one study is already underway.
The potential of AOH1996 to revolutionize cancer treatment is truly remarkable. While it is still in the early stages of development and further research is needed, the preliminary findings are undeniably exciting. Anna’s legacy lives on through her parents’ tireless efforts and the medical breakthrough they have helped bring to fruition. In the fight against cancer, AOH1996 represents a ray of hope for the future.
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