New research has revealed that drugs intended to treat the eye disease known as glaucoma can be repurposed to fight malignant tumors, most notably breast cancer, melanoma, and acute myeloid leukemia.
Researchers at the British Cancer Research Institute found that these cancers share one weakness: they all depend on a molecule called ROCK (or Ryo kinase) in order to become aggressive and able to spread in the body.7
This molecule works by tightening the internal structure of cancer cells, causing them to contract and take a rounded shape, which generates a force that allows them to compress through tissues and move to other organs.
Since drugs that inhibit this molecule already exist and are used safely for glaucoma patients, scientists saw the potential for repurposing them to treat cancer. In their study, they identified specific biomarkers that can predict which patients are likely to respond well to these drugs.
Researchers analyzed data from a drug sensitivity database to identify the types of cancer cells most responsive to ROCK inhibitors. In breast cancer, they found that the responding cells carried a defect in a gene called E-Cadherin. In melanoma, the responding cells were more rounded and more active in a signaling pathway called NFKB. In acute myeloid leukemia, the responding cells were characterized by a specific set of genetic alterations.
These results were tested in laboratory experiments on tumor samples and studies on mice, which strengthened the hypothesis that these indicators could, in the future, by taking a biopsy from the patient, determine the effectiveness of ROCK inhibitors in his case.
The study's lead author, Professor Victoria Sanz Moreno, emphasized that identifying this common vulnerability is a crucial step in combating aggressive cancers, particularly those that have spread and become difficult to treat. She expressed optimism that an existing, safe drug could be adapted for use in these cases, rather than waiting for the development of entirely new medications.
Dr. Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, said that this research paves the way for understanding which breast cancer patients and others might benefit most from these repurposed drugs, especially since they target cells most prone to spreading and resisting treatment.
The study's lead author, researcher Jaume Barceló, indicated that the next step will be to test the effectiveness of these inhibitors in combination with other treatments to maximize benefits for patients. He expressed hope that these drugs will soon move into clinical trials for cancer treatment, given that they are already licensed for glaucoma.
In a comment from the Melanoma Focus charity, its chief executive Susanna Daniels said that these results, although still early and needing further trials, offer an encouraging direction for skin cancer research and the development of more personalized treatments, especially since not all patients respond to current treatments.
The experts concluded that repurposing existing, safe drugs can save valuable time in reaching patients compared to developing new drugs from scratch. Although the study is still in its early stages, it lays the groundwork for what could be a game-changer in the treatment of some of the deadliest cancers.
