AOH1996 is a “cancer-killing” medication that has been the subject of preliminary investigation and can potentially eradicate solid tumors while sparing healthy cells completely.
The drug has been developed over 20 years with the City of Hope, a preeminent cancer research and treatment organization, at the head of its development in the United States. The drug targets a malignant form of the protein PCNA, essential in DNA replication and mending developing tumors.
Preclinical studies on AOH1996 are now being conducted in an effort to provide cancer patients with a tailored and efficient course of treatment.
Professor Linda Malkas, who has been involved with the drug’s development, likened PCNA to a significant airport hub with numerous gates. Contrarily, the medicine is made to target only the mutated version of PCNA that is present in cancer cells, effectively stopping the proliferation of cancer cells.
Although the research is now only focused on inhibiting tumor growth in animal and cell models, its preliminary findings are encouraging.
The first stage of a clinical trial for the medications has started to evaluate the effectiveness of the tablet in people. It has so far proven effective against cells generated from a variety of malignancies, including lung, ovarian, cervix, breast, prostate, brain, and skin cancers.
The discovery becomes all the more important because PCNA was once thought to be “undruggable”. Future cancer treatments may be more individualized and targeted thanks to this development, it is anticipated.
Read Also: By 2030, there will be cancer and heart disease vaccines available.
