An emerging research discovered that a drug used to treat breast cancer alone or in combination with endocrine therapy can potentially work for other types of cancer also.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that Palbociclib can inhibit the acitivity of enzymes CDK4 and CDK6 by targeting the rapid tumor cells division, which increases the number of cancer cells. The drug is the first breast cancer drug to be approved as CDK4/6 inhibitor.
Lead author Amy S. Clark said that normally, all living cells go through cell division. With the pill's ability to stop the cell division process, otherwise called the cell cycle, palbociclib has the potential for broad applicability. She further claimed that combining palbociclib with other forms of anti-cancer therapies including endocrine therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy can make them more effective and stronger in treating other forms of cancers.
In addition, analyzing about 130 studies, including their own, the scientists discovered that other than its safety and efficacy in combating other types of cancer, early phase of clinical trials of palbociclib have also revealed promising effects on cases of sarcoma, lymphoma and teratoma. These types of tumors are rare in nature and most often target younger ones.
During clinical trials, the drug has shown to be safe when administered once a day in patients with both breast and other cancer types. The only noted adverse effect was neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophil (a white blood cell that combats infection) level. While in tumors, the drug can shrink and arrest their growth.
"As we discover new functions for the CDK4/6 target of this medicine, we are likely to use it in combinations to make other anti-cancer agents work better," University of Pennsylvania professor Peter O'Dwyer said.
