Nicosia, Cyprus. Research by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics reported progress toward treating aggressive and resilient forms of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, the institute said on Tuesday.
Research team and publication
The work was conducted by the department of cancer genetics, therapeutics and ultrastructural pathology under Dr Fotios Bekris and published in the Journal of Controlled Release.
Barrier to effective treatment
The institute said many cancer treatments fail because medication cannot effectively reach cancer cells, as tumours create a hard and dense environment rich in connective tissue and distorted vessels that act as a shield. It described this “biological wall” as a major obstacle in modern oncology and said researchers focused on some of the most difficult types of cancer.
Method tested
The team used the approved antihistamine Ketotifen, which it said is known to make the shield softer. Combined with ultrasound to increase vascular permeability, classical chemotherapy was administered.
Reported results
The institute said the approach led to the wall gradually withdrawing, allowing medication to reach its target and “drastically reducing the size of the tumour.”
Previous research and funding
The institute said the research built on earlier work indicating that a combination of nanotherapy and immunotherapy could make tumours vanish in some cases, both in initial phases and during metastasis. It said the studies were funded by the European Research Centre with €1.5 million through the ERC-2022-StG programme.
What do you think this approach could mean for future treatment options for hard-to-treat cancers?
