Researchers from the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pretoria and at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, in South Africa, have managed to demonstrate that a new ‘Miniprotein‘, a radiopharmacus, could specifically go to cancer cells without affecting healthy tissues in various types of tumors.
In depth
The study presented on Friday in the 36th Eortc-NCI-AACR symposium on molecular and therapeutic objectives against cancer in Barcelona, and is directed by Mike SathekgeHead of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pretoria.
The ‘Miniprotein‘It has a special design with which it is possible to administer a radiation dose directly to tumor cells that express a protein on their surfaces called Nectin-4. This protein is present in different types of cancer.
“This is the first time a completely new technology for directed radiation is used. A small protein designed to Locate another protein that express many cancers, Nectin-4was used to bring radiation directly to the tumor, “says the researcher.
More details
Miniprotein, called Aky-1189is the first compound designed to administer a therapeutic dose of Actinio-225, a radioactive element, specifically addressing Nectin-4. This is a protein that is found in cell membranes and is overexpressed at 90% Of patients with different solid tumors, including bladder, breast, lung, head and neck, cervix and intestine cancers.
“We wanted to cover the need for patients whose cancer has grown beyond their site of origin or has spread to other parts of the body and that has continued to progress despite the standard treatment“Satehekge adds.
With the authorization of the regulatory authority of health products of South Africa (Sahpra), The researchers administered Aky-1189 under section 21 to 20 patients in the research infrastructure in nuclear medicine (NUMBER). Of themnine had metastatic bladder cancer; three, metastatic breast cancer; three, cervical cancer; two, colorectal cancer and three others; Non -small cell lung cancer.
The patients received A single Aky-1189 injectionan amount used in the routine imaging with radiopharmaceuticals. They were scanned at one, two and three hours of receiving injection using positron emission and computerized tomography (PET-CT) to evaluate how the medicine had directed to the tumors and how much of the dose they had absorbed.
To take into account
To understand the dose over the expected time with AC-Aky-1189 In tumors and organs, especially the kidneys and the entire body, the researchers inject Aky-1189 in nine patients and scanned them at three hours, 24 and 48 hours using computed tomography by emission of a single photon (SPECT-CT). Until now, the distribution of the medication in the body in 15 patients has been analyzed and how it was absorbed by tumors. Eight patients were evaluated to anticipate If there could be any effect on the kidneys when actinio is administered in the future.
Aky-1189 had no adverse effectsnot even in the skin. The salivary glands showed transitory absorption but without significant exposure to radiation. A radiation collection was observed in the kidneys, although at a level that suggests that Patients can safely receive a complete dose series.
The images showed a significant absorption of radiation in various types of cancer, while in normal tissues radiation disappeared rapidly.
“What we have carried out It has not been a clinical trial, So we have not yet collected data on the response of cancer to treatment, but those studies are already ongoing. However, we did obtain important information not only for specific patients, but also about the potential of Aky-1189 for future patients“The researcher points out.
“It more important That we have learned is that the medication is absorbed by different types of tumors and, as such, has great potential to treat them. Also, and this is key, we saw that the medicine does not accumulate in the normal fabric, so it could be safe for multiple administrations for maximize The impact of the treatment, “he adds.
These data feel the bases for additional clinical investigation in metastatic bladder cancer and other tumors with the Nectin-4 target. “We are opening A study in our Institute in Numeri in Pretoriafor cancer patients Mama, lung, colorectal, cervical and metastatic bladder. The company that developed Aky-1189, Aktis, is also preparing its study in the US, “says the researcher.
#Scientists #discover #miniprotein #directs #radiation #dose #tumors #damaging #healthy #tissue
