New therapy could be effective in treating 30 percent of cancers
The study team also included Drs. Brian Leber from McMaster University / Hamilton Health Sciences (Ontario) and Denis-Claude Roy from Maisonneuve-Rosemont H Pital Montreal. The study was made possible by a grant awarded $ 600 000 to Dr. Borden by Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (USA).The trial studied patients with M4/M5 acute myeloid leukemia who had undergone several other treatments had failed. We have had significant clinical improvement, with partial and complete remissions, said Assouline.
The study, inspired by the exciting discoveries made by Dr. Borden at IRIC, was a joint project of his research group, which has tracked the molecular events in the study patients, Dr. Sarit Assouline and the Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, who led the clinical part of the test.
The combination treatment with chemotherapeutic agents may enhance the effectiveness of this treatment, says Borden, Essays in the near future have been introduced to overcome this and we look forward to more complete remissions. We also hope to determine whether the ribavirin is effective in the treatment of other tumors with deregulated eIF4E. Our laboratory studies indicate that this is likely.
Dr. Wilson Miller, director of the Clinical Research Unit, Jewish General Hospital and co-investigator of the study, said: It ‘s rare that discoveries in basic research to move so quickly and with clinical success.
The study demonstrates that ribavirin inhibits the activity of the eIF4E gene in patients. This gene is dysregulated in 30 % of cancers including breast, prostate, head and neck, colon and stomach cancer.
