2023-12-01 18:01:27
An experimental combination of two drugs showed effectiveness in the treatment of tumors of the peripheral nerve sheaths, which are difficult to treat. The study results were published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
An experiment on mice revealed that the combined use of two experimental drugs, one of which blocks the metabolism of the amino acid glutamine, and the other blocks the recycling of purines (the building blocks of DNA), leads to a reduction in the size of tumors of the peripheral nerve sheaths and increases the survival of the animals. In addition, this therapy turned out to be less toxic compared to existing treatment methods.
Previous studies by the authors showed that using a drug that blocks the use of glutamine partially shrinks tumors. However, tumors retain access to purines through their recycling. A second experimental drug aims to prevent this possibility.
Scientists explained that glutamine is an important building block for the growth, reproduction and survival of cancer cells. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare types of cancer that originate in the nerve sheath. Survival depends on successful surgical removal of the tumor, response to traditional chemotherapy, and the extent of cancer spread.
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