IISc researchers developing drug to cure breast cancer

A group of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a "two-drugs cocktail" that acts to curb two proteins - Notch and Ras - whose overexpression could lead to the most aggressive variant of breast cancer, The Deccan Herald reported.

The drug combination had been earlier tested on mice with positive results and had the potential for being developed for humans.

The findings of the study had been published in the journal, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics on 27 September.

The researchers from the Department of Molecular Reproduction Development and Genetics studied as many as 115 cases with breast cancer over a period of five years.

According to Sai Balaji, co-author of the study and a PhD student at the institute, of the 115 cases they detailed and studies, they found that in as many as 63 per cent the expression of the Notch and Erk proteins was higher.

After the tests on mice, the two labs at IISc are now developing versions for use in human trials, The Hindustan Times reported.

In their recent work, members of Annapoorni Rangarajan's lab at IISc had identified two new weapons in the TNBC arsenal, and found new ways of neutralising them.

The study found that tumours  derived from human breast cancers when grown in mice, caused death of tumour cells and curbed their aggressive behavior which led to small tumors and better outcomes.

The work at the two labs is now focused on "cogenerating recombinant antibodies that can be used in human trials."

According to a scientist associated with the study, though in its early stages, the results were promising and potentially provided a new approach to tackle a formidable and elusive enemy- the triple negative breast cancers.

The triple negative class of breast cancers (TNBC) are highly aggressive, grow faster, spread more and relapse sooner during treatment that usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.