Experimental brain cancer drug cuts tumour growth in half and fuels hope for the future

Previously untouchable brain tumours have been halved by Melbourne scientists using an experimental new drug, fuelling hopes their research may one day lead to a treatment.

Brain tumour cells from six Melbourne patients were removed and treated with an experimental drug in a Monash University laboratory.

A new drug being developed by Melbourne scientists has been able to reduce previously untouchable brain cancer cells by half in tests that raise hope for a potential treatment.

Brain tumour cells from six Melbourne patients were removed and treated with the experimental drug in a Monash University laboratory.

Researchers found that after three days, the cancer cells had been cut almost in half compared to control samples left untreated.

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Currently, there are no long-term treatments for glioma, which accounts for 80 per cent of the 1750 brain cancers diagnosed in Australia each year. The disease remains incurable and life expectancy after diagnosis averages 15 months.

But results of a collaboration between Monash, Melbourne Health, Alfred Health and Melbourne University researchers to be announced on Thursday show their drug was able to halt the cancer’s growth and reduce its size 50 per cent in just three days.

Study leader Dr Mastura Monif from Monash said the breakthrough offered new hope for combating the horror disease if results could be replicated in human trials.

“This is very exciting ­because, for the first time, we are seeing something that can reduce tumour cell numbers,” Dr Monif said.

“Finally there is this inhibition of this proteins that actually reduces tumour proliferation.

“When you see patients with glioblastoma, it is a very sad clinic to attend. Within six months, the patient you saw is very different and, when you get to nine months, a lot of them have ended up dying. The idea of this project is to try and develop this compound as fast as possible so we can use it.”

Monash University study leader Dr Mastura Monif (second from left) with Veronica Voo. William O’Brien, Robb Wesselingh and Katrina Kan.

The drug — known as AZ10606120 — works by attaching itself and blocking a protein on the glioma cells called P2X7R, which is believed to help tumours grow.

Human glioma tumours removed from patients during surgery were treated with AZ10606120 in a lab and, after three days, researchers found the cancer cells been cut almost in half compared to control samples left untreated.

Previous animal studies have also shown the drug can limit the growth of pancreatic, melanoma and ovarian cancers.

Monash PhD student Liyen Kan will present the collaboration’s full research at the Australian and New Zealand Purine Club Meeting in Melbourne on Thursday as it pushes for backing to the research.

Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are standard care for glioblastoma patients but carry devastating side effects and only increase survival time by a few months.

Developing drugs targeting glioma is particularly difficult because few compounds can breach the brian’s protective lining, however Dr Monif is hopeful the makeup of AZ10606120 will allow it to break through.

Dr Monif said animal studies focusing on glioblastoma would need to be undertaken as the next step.

“A lot of drugs don’t penetrate the blood-brain barrier, whereas this molecule is so small we are hoping it will be able to penetrate and produce the effect where it is needed so we don’t need to use massive doses that cause so much toxicity for the patient,” Dr Monif said.

“Even if we can buy months, that would be amazing. If we could buy years that would also be amazing. But if we can reduce the tumour, shrink it to 10 per cent or lower that would be our aim,” she said. “We want to be able to reduce the tumour by 50, 60, 70 per cent but if we can reduce it completely, that is the aim,” she said.

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