UC develops new lung cancer treatment | University Of Cincinnati – University of Cincinnati

We adapted this technique to the study of lipids and specifically in a miniaturized, scaled-down version so that we can actually study tumors which are like the head of a pin, said Scaglioni, associate director for translational research at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, professor and division chief of hematology oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine in UCs College of Medicine and a UC Health physician. As far as I know there are three places worldwide where we can do this, and UC is one of them.

In addition to being used as fuel to help cancer cells grow, the team discovered that the lipids also help fortify the cell membrane and prevent damage that could lead to cancer cell death.

When you know the specific lipids, you know the genes that make the lipids, Scaglioni said. Then you can start manipulating the genes and ask yourself what happens to the cancer.

In the lab, the team used a novel drug to block the protein responsible for fatty acid synthesis. As expected, when the cells couldnt make lipids, cancer cells couldnt grow and began to die.

With the lessons learned from the research, Scaglioni and his team oversaw a Phase 1 multisite clinical trial testing the effectiveness of the drug to treat patients with KRAS-mutated lung cancer. The trial results were sufficient to proceed to a Phase 2 trial currently being operated at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, with the trial expected to open at UC soon.

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UC develops new lung cancer treatment | University Of Cincinnati - University of Cincinnati