Combination drug therapy in mice can block drug resistance and stop tumor growth

According to a study in mice conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St.

One of the drugs, cyclophosphamide, is an outdated chemotherapy drug that was once used to treat small cell lung cancer

In this study, however, the researchers showed that small cell lung cancer cells fight cyclophosphamide by activating a specific repair process, and demonstrated that disrupting the repair process makes the drug more effective, at least in mice

"There is a treatment option for small cell lung cancer — platinum-based chemotherapy — which could add 2 to 6 months of life," said co-author Nima Mosammamaparast, associate professor of pathology, immunology and medicine at the University of Washington and a fellow at

The study was done by accident

The team found that RNF113A is regulated by a protein called SMYD3, which is highly expressed

So they tried

All the mice had tumors

Mosammaparast said: "We are in discussions with a number of other organizations to start Phase I clinical trials

Article title

SMYD3 impedes small cell lung cancer sensitivity to alkylation damage through RNF113A methylation-phosphorylation crosstalk