Sci-fic Information

Breakthrough Discovery:
Targeting Stress Response Mechanisms Shows Promise in Wiping Out Aggressive Glioblastoma Tumours

Meta Description: Researchers have made a breakthrough discovery in the treatment of glioblastoma, a common and aggressive brain tumour. By targeting stress response mechanisms in cancer cells, they successfully eliminated the tumour cells in mice. Learn more about this promising development.

Aggressive glioblastoma tumours pose a significant challenge, but a recent breakthrough discovery offers hope. Researchers have identified a method that can induce stress-related cell death in cancerous cells, effectively combating glioblastoma. This form of brain tumour affects approximately 19,000 individuals in the EU each year, making it a pressing concern for medical professionals and patients alike.

Targeting Stress Response Mechanisms to Combat Glioblastoma: Glioblastoma cells are characterized by their inherent stress levels and utilization of stress response mechanisms to gain advantages. Eric Chevet, the head of a cancer research laboratory at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), explains that cancer cells are fundamentally stressed, leading to enhanced resistance, migration ability, and resilience to chemotherapy. Recognizing this vulnerability, researchers sought to weaken the cancer cells by targeting the stress response mechanism known as "IRE1," specifically in the case of glioblastoma.

Collaborating with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, researchers pursued a three-step approach to test their hypothesis. Initially, they conducted computational modelling to predict the interactions between approximately 15 million molecules and proteins within the body. Through this process, the Z4P molecule emerged as a potential candidate. In subsequent cellular tests, the Z4P molecule not only reduced the cancer cells' resistance but also impeded their migration abilities. Encouraged by these findings, the researchers proceeded to test the molecule in mice, combining it with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide (TMZ), traditionally used in glioblastoma treatment. The combined treatment significantly weakened the cancer cells' resistance to stress, resulting in a substantial reduction in tumour size and complete eradication of cancer cells without relapse.

While the results are promising, it is important to note that the development of a new drug or treatment option is still a considerable distance away. Modifications to the Z4P molecule's structure and additional animal testing are necessary before human trials can begin. To advance the research, collaboration with the Rennes Institute of Chemical Sciences is planned. Moreover, the potential implications of these findings extend beyond glioblastoma and may offer hope for treating other aggressive tumour forms, such as pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and certain liver cancers.