A new small molecule compound can sensitise tumour cancer cells to platinum compounds, according to a new study.

YM155 was found to limit the expression of survivin, which is a member of the inhibitor of the apoptosis protein family, at both the mRNA and protein levels.

The researchers noted that it exhibited anti-cancer activity in pre-clinical models, while also being able to sensitise non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to radiation in vitro and in vivo.

In their paper, which was published recently in the British Journal of Cancer, the authors claimed that the success can be attributed to the inhibition of DNA repair and its knock-on effect of improving apoptosis.

Summarising the results, they noted that the combination of YM155 and platinum compounds "may have potential as a novel therapeutic regimen".

"Platinum-based combination chemotherapy is the standard of care for most individuals with advanced NSCLC," they wrote.

"We have shown that treatment of NSCLC cells with YM155 results in a marked increase in the anti-tumour effects of cisplatin and carboplatin both in vitro and in vivo."

The 13 Japanese researchers were drawn from the Department of Medical Oncology at Kinki University School of Medicine and the Institute of Drug Discovery Research.

Source:

New apoptosis inhibitor protein sensitises cancer cell to platinum-based compounds (19/07/10)

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