A recent study conducted at the University of Turku in Finland reveals that the drug plixorafenib, originally developed for the treatment of melanoma and lung cancer, may also be effective in stopping the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
cSCC, also known as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, is the most common type of metastatic skin cancer. The incidence of cSCC is on the rise globally, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. Currently, there are no targeted treatments available for metastatic cSCC, making the prognosis poor for patients.
Cancer cells often contain multiple mutations, leading to their rapid division and proliferation. This accelerated growth is often fueled by the activation of several signaling pathways simultaneously. Many existing therapies target only a single cancer mutation or signaling pathway, but researchers believe that blocking multiple pathways could be a more effective approach to impede cancer growth.
In an article published in the journal Oncogene, the research groups of Professor Jyrki Heino (Biochemistry) and Professor Veli-Matti Kähäri (Dermatology) at the University of Turku identified a new target for the drug plixorafenib (also known as PLX8394) that inhibits several key pathways in cSCC simultaneously.
Originally designed to treat melanoma and lung cancer caused by specific mutations, plixorafenib is currently undergoing phase 2 clinical trials for these cancers. However, the researchers discovered that the drug also targets multiple signaling pathways in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
According to Professor Heino, the drug shows promising results in inhibiting multiple cancer-causing proteins and signaling pathways, even at doses that appear to have minimal side effects.
The study utilized 3D cell culture models that closely mimic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tumors in laboratory conditions. The senior research fellow Elina Siljamäki, the first author of the article, explains that previous studies had indicated the involvement of two signaling proteins, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and Ras proto-oncoprotein, in the spread of cSCC. The study demonstrated that plixorafenib, designed to inhibit the Ras signaling pathway, also blocked the activation of the TGF-β pathway, thus impeding the growth of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in mouse models.
This discovery is significant because it demonstrates that a single drug can target multiple cancer-causing proteins and signaling pathways, thereby slowing down cancer metastasis.
Additionally, the study suggests that drugs that have progressed to clinical trials could have a wider range of targets, making them useful in the treatment of various cancers. Since the safety of plixorafenib has already been established, it could be introduced more quickly for the treatment of new patients.
The results of the study indicate that plixorafenib is a highly promising candidate for a clinical trial in the treatment of local or metastatic cSCC. This new drug holds the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients suffering from this form of skin cancer.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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