IBS GRANADA scientists create a drug with greater effect against cancer
The research group A-01 Technologies applied to Oncology and Gene Therapy of the ibs.GRANADA, of the University of Granada (UGR) and Seville, have succeeded in synthesizing new nanopharmaceuticals with greater effect against cancer and that could reduce the pain associated with treatment antitumor.
These scientists have successfully tested, in lung cancer tumor cell cultures and in mouse models, a new formula to deliver the drug paclitaxel by transporting it in nanoparticles developed from a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid.
New way to administer paclitaxel
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a very effective agent for the treatment of lung and breast cancer, but it has an important limitation in its use: it induces intense pain by damaging the sensory neurons that are located in the spinal nodes (peripheral neuropathy), which that causes in many occasions the suspension of the treatment.
Furthermore, paclitaxel is a nonselective drug with high toxicity, requiring excipients for administration that can cause serious side effects. Finally, its effectiveness is lower in so-called "stem cell" cancers, tumor cells that are resistant to this and other drugs and are responsible for the recurrence of the disease.
Research carried out by scientists from Granada and Seville
The research work has been led by José Carlos Prados, professor in the Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology and member of the Biomedical Research Center (CIBM) of the UGR and the Institute for Biosanitary Research ibs Granada, and Lucía Martín Banderas, professor at the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology of the University of Seville.
In addition, it has been developed within an Excellence Research Project directed by Professor José Manuel Baeyens, professor in the Pharmacology department and also a member of the CIBM of the UGR and the ibs Granada. The project has also had the collaboration of researchers from the Biosanitary Research Institute and the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada.
Biocompatible nanoparticle with protective effect
Studies carried out have shown for the first time that the association of the agent paclitaxel with a new nanoparticle of lactic acid and glycolic acid not only has high biocompatibility, which is essential for its use in humans, and is capable of increasing activity of the drug on tumor stem cells, but could exert a protective effect against peripheral neuropathy.
In vivo results using mice have shown an increase in the drug's circulation time and greater accumulation in lung and brain tissues, which could represent an advantage for its use. Furthermore, the drug levels detected in the spinal dorsal root ganglia are extremely low, which would prevent the development of neuropathic pain.
The latest studies by the research groups involved are trying to determine the mechanism by which the new nanopharmaceutical protects against the development of peripheral neuropathy, which will be the subject of a new publication shortly.
