Breast cancer is a common cancer in women worldwide and can also occur in men. Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the hardest types to treat. A new study has identified two inhibitors that, when used together, make triple-negative breast cancer cells revert to a state where they can be more easily destroyed. Clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and potentially develop a new treatment for this aggressive form of breast cancer. Despite the rising incidence of breast cancer, fewer people are dying due to better screening and treatments, but some forms, like triple-negative breast cancer, remain hard to treat. This type of breast cancer does not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and does not respond to hormone therapy or anti-HER2 drugs used for other types of breast cancer.
The study from Mass General Brigham focused on combining AKT and EZH2 inhibitors to kill triple-negative breast cancer cells. Overexpression of these proteins can lead to cancerous tumors, and inhibiting them separately has not been effective against this type of breast cancer. By targeting both proteins together, the researchers were able to induce the cancer cells to differentiate into a state that made them susceptible to the inhibitors. This approach reduced the number of cells in TNBC cultures, offering hope for a new treatment strategy. The combined treatment killed around 60% of the cells in their experiments, prompting further evaluation in patient-derived xenografts and mouse tumor models, which showed dramatic tumor regression. These results provide support for developing a clinical trial in humans to test the efficacy of this treatment approach.
The findings offer promise for patients with TNBC, who often face limited treatment options and worse prognoses compared to other breast cancers. The study’s unique origin story, supported by Cancer Research UK and The Mark Foundation, emphasized a deep understanding of cancer pathways and how these inhibitors could work synergistically to target TNBC cells effectively. The use of AI and machine learning to identify individuals most likely to respond to the therapy enhances the chances of success in clinical trials and ensures the right treatment reaches the right patients. The potential for a more effective therapy that could spare patients from the side effects of chemotherapy is considered a game-changer in the treatment of TNBC. Further evidence from clinical trials will help determine if this combined inhibitor approach could be a viable treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer.
While breast cancer remains a significant health concern, advances in screening and treatment have led to a decline in mortality rates. However, certain types of breast cancer, like triple-negative breast cancer, present challenges in treatment due to their aggressive nature and lack of response to standard therapies. The study’s discovery of a novel combination of AKT and EZH2 inhibitors that selectively target TNBC cells represents a potential breakthrough in finding new treatment options for this difficult-to-treat cancer. Clinical trials will be crucial in confirming the efficacy and safety of this treatment approach, and the hope is that it could lead to improved outcomes and quality of life for patients with triple-negative breast cancer in the future.
