A combination of three drugs, none of which has worked alone, are being touted as a possible combination treatment for brain cancer and GBM.
Scientists at SouthWestern Medical School, Texas, have been experimenting on brain tumours in mice(1).
In particular, GBM brain cancer has been found to have a protein CD47 on cell surfaces. This protein blocks the immune system’s ability to see the cancer cells.
The first tests used monoclonal antibody drugs which block the protein. The logic was that this would then let the immune system work. Unfortunately, results were poor.
Next the team studied Temozolomide, a drug approved in 1986 and widely used with GBM. It causes GBM cells to emit ER- stress chemicals that prompt an immune attack. Again the results were poor.
So next they put the two drugs together and the results were much better, but like most chemical treatments, the cancer worked it all out and eventually blocked the treatment.
Undeterred, the research team then used a PD-1 immunotherapy. Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab are the most commonly used PD-1 immunotherapies.
This 3 drug combination worked much better with survival extended and 55% of the mice surviving throughout the trial period.
The three drugs in combination increase the body’s ability to see, attack and consume (phagocytosis) the Glioblastoma cancer cells.
Go to: Brain Cancer alternative treatments that have worked
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Reference
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-15129-8