Potential cancer-killing pill offers new hope

Scientists have developed a drug that could be a game changer for treating a range of cancers including breast, lung and skin. See how it works.

Scientists have developed a breakthrough drug that kills all solid cancer tumours while leaving other cells unharmed.

The pill targets a protein, previously thought to be “undruggable”, which is present in most cancers and helps tumours grow and multiply in the body.

The potentially groundbreaking drug was tested on 70 different cancer cells derived from breast, prostate, brain, ovarian, cervical, skin, and lung cancer — and was effective against them all.

Results are “promising” as the molecule can suppress tumour growth “without resulting in toxicity”. Picture: iStock

The pill is the result of decades of research and development by the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles, one of the largest cancer centres in the US.

In a statement, lead researcher Dr Malkas said: “Most targeted therapies focus on a single pathway, which enables wily cancer to mutate and eventually become resistant.

“PCNA is like a major airline terminal hub containing multiple plane gates.

“Data suggests PCNA is uniquely altered in cancer cells, and this fact allowed us to design a drug that targeted only the form of PCNA in cancer cells.

“Our cancer-killing pill is like a snowstorm that closes a key airline hub, shutting down all flights in and out only in planes carrying cancer cells.”

The drug was tested on 70 different cancer cells.

Dr Malkas said results were “promising” as the molecule can suppress tumour growth “without resulting in toxicity”.

There have been no reported side effects from the cancer drug and the first patient to receive the medication in the clinical trial did well, City of Hope researchers said last October.

The drug may even have the potential to decrease side effects related to lifesaving cancer treatments when used in combination with existing therapies, Dr Malkas said at the time.

The cancer drug is codenamed AOH1996 after Anna Olivia Healy, who died in 2005 aged nine from childhood cancer.

Dr Malkas met the girl’s father just before the child died and was inspired to find a cure in her memory, according to the City of Hope Hospital’s website.

“(Steve) asked if I could do something about neuroblastoma and he wrote my lab a check for $25,000,” Dr Malkas previously said in a statement on the cancer centre’s website.

“That was the moment that changed my life — my fork in the road. I knew I wanted to do something special for that little girl.”

Originally published as Potential cancer-killing pill offers new hope