Improving kidney cancer treatment
29 Jul, 2008
Source: Auckland University, July 2008
A new approach to targeting kidney cancer is being taken by Auckland University scientists, working with colleagues at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Their research is focusing on the VHL gene which does not work in the majority of kidney tumour cells. Dr Amato Giaccia at Stanford has identified a small molecule (called STF-62247) that kills cells where the VHL gene is not functioning, but is generally harmless to most other cells in the human body.
Dr Michael Hay at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre has built on Dr Giaccia’s discovery and designed related molecules that retain the cancer selective properties, but have characteristics that make them more suitable for use as a human drug.
These novel compounds induce autophagy, a cellular process that normally recycles cell components. In the absence of a functional VHL gene the process becomes lethal, killing kidney cancer cells and sparing normal cells.
“Kidney cancer is the tenth most prevalent cancer in the New Zealand population and affects about twice as many men as women,” Principal Investigator in the Auckland group Professor Bill Denny says.
“By taking the Stanford molecule and adapting it we have created related compounds that retain the desired cytotoxic properties whilst improving other important factors like water solubility necessary for making an effective human drug.”
Scientists hope they will be able to create a better treatment to improve the long term health of kidney cancer patients.
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