A NEW drug developed at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth, UK, have shown great promise in inhibiting tumour cell growth.
Meningioma, a form of primary brain tumour, is commonly treated by surgery, or when can hard to access, radiotherapy. In a compelling new study, Juri Na, Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Devon, UK, and her team recently investigated the effects of radiotherapy on the brain and developed ways of improving its efficacy in patients.
During their investigation, they found that external radiation therapy led to an increase in expression of a histone deacetylase enzyme, called HDAC6. HDAC6 overexpression is commonly observed in cancers and theorised to be a driver of cellular growth in tumours. To combat this therefore, Na and colleagues, began developing a drug that would selectively inhibit HDAC6 overexpression in patients receiving radiation therapy.
The final product, Cay10603, was a HDAC inhibitor then when used alongside radiotherapy, was found to reduce tumour cell growth and increase tumour cell death. Commenting on the significance of these findings, Na wrote, ‘It means that this combination treatment will kill cancer cells more efficiently while avoiding serious side effects that could be caused by heavy radiation treatment, as we can administer a low dose of radiation along with Cay10603.’
With no HDAC inhibitors currently used in the clinical setting, this study holds significant hope for the future of meningioma care and could dramatically reduce potential side effects for patients receiving radiotherapy treatment.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Na J et al. Targeting histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) to enhance radiation therapy in meningiomas in a 2D and 3D in vitro study. eBio Medicine. 2024;105:105211.
