For Patients with Multiple Myeloma, DTP3 May Be Effective

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

According to a study published in the journal Cancer Cell, researchers at Imperial College London in London, United Kingdom, have developed a novel cancer drug called DTP3 that has effectively killed myeloma cells in human cells and mice during laboratory tests. The drug did not cause any toxic adverse effects, a common problem with most other anticancer drugs. DTP3 works by inhibiting an important process involved with cancer cell proliferation.

By studying cancer cells from patients with multiple myeloma, the researchers identified GADD45β/MKK7, a protein complex that plays a key role in helping cancer cells to survive.

By targeting this protein complex with DTP3, the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway, which is overactive in numerous types of cancer and responsible for preventing apoptosis, becomes interrupted, thereby leading to selective myeloma cell death. A key benefit of DTP3 is that it does not result in toxic side effects at the doses that have destroyed tumors in mice.

The researchers are optimistic that DTP3 could have therapeutic benefit for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and possibly other types of cancer. They hope to begin clinical trials next year.