New drug targets the source of Cancer renewal

A new class of drug that reduces cancer recurrence and spread may soon be available, with South Australian biopharmaceutical company Bionomics having passed review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with their product BNC101.
The drug targets hard-to-treat colorectal and pancreatic cancers, but may also prove suitable to treat breast, lung and other tumors.
Bionomics CEO Dr Deborah Rathjen said the drug has the potential to be a breakthrough therapy because of the way it stops cancers growing.
"BNC101 targets a molecule called LGR5 on cancer stem cells, and prevents cell proliferation," said Dr Rathjen.
"No other drugs currently in the market or in development work through this mechanism."
Cancer stem cells are the primary source of the many cell types that constitute each type of cancer. They are also the cells responsible for cancers spreading via metastasis.
"Cancer stem cells are very difficult to kill – they don't respond to chemotherapy to the same degree as other cancer cells, and they're resistant to radiation treatment as well," explained Dr Rathjen.
"Our studies show that treatment with BNC101 depletes stem cells from cancer cell populations, and can prevent tumors from re-establishing."