Novel Drug Mechanism Developed for Fighting Brain Cancer

Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) have developed and characterized a molecule that interferes with the internal regulation of cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct. The novel mechanism was found to be effective against glioma cells, and could be applicable to other highly aggressive cancers. “We have elucidated the mode of action of a drug that destroys glioma cells in a manner that has not previously been described,” said the study’s author. “We anticipate that it will lead to new treatments to fight cancers that are resistant to standard therapies.” The researchers performed a series of studies utilizing high-content analysis which quantifies changes in living cells in response to a drug treatment. The focus was put on the effects of a patented small molecule previously developed at UC Davis, known as UCD38B, on four different human glioma cell lines. The research team’s study showed that UCD38B is effective against such non-dividing glioma cells, as well as dividing cells destroyed by conventional therapy. They found that UCD38B acts by targeting a cellular regulatory system called the urokinase plasminogen activator system. To read more about this study, click here.