Study reveals new therapeutic option for head and neck carcinomas
Date:
April 19, 2022
Source:
Medical University of Vienna
Summary:
The various manifestations of head and neck carcinomas rank sixth
in frequency worldwide and are fatal for about half a million
people every year. In a quarter of cases, head and neck squamous
cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
and, currently, is not always treatable. A research team has now
discovered a possible new therapeutic option.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The various manifestations of head and neck carcinomas rank sixth in
frequency worldwide and are fatal for about half a million people every
year. In a quarter of cases, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
(HNSCC) is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and, currently, is not
always treatable. A research team led by Lorenz Kadletz-Wanke from MedUni Vienna's Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
has now discovered a new therapeutic option in the context of a study.
==========================================================================
In the course of their investigations, the researchers were able to
identify a protein that can be used to predict above-average survival
of patients with HPV-positive head and neck carcinoma and to achieve
progress in treatment.
Specifically, this involves the Creb-binding protein (CBP), which controls various cellular programs and plays a role in carcinogenesis, among other things. As the study shows, CBP is much more active in HPV-induced head
and neck tumours.
Prognostic marker The most common triggers of head and neck tumours
continue to be alcohol consumption and smoking. That said, human
papillomavirus infections have increasingly been identified as the cause
of HNSCC in recent years. Patients with HPV-positive head and neck tumours
have so far been treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This standard method acts systemically, i.e. on the whole body, is often accompanied
by serious side effects such as hair loss, nausea and anemia, and not
all patients respond to it. In the search for targeted treatments, the interdisciplinary research group studied the tissue of patients with HPV-positive HNSCC tumours histologically and in preclinical models. In
the process, they not only discovered the protein CBP as a prognostic
marker for above-average patient survival but also found that HPV-
positive HNSCC cell models in particular can be effectively treated with
a CBP inhibitor.
Targeted therapy CBP inhibitors are drugs currently in development and may
be available within the next few years. "For patients with HPV-positive
head and neck carcinoma, treatment with CBP inhibitors has the advantage
that it can be targeted, rather than affecting the whole body. It is
also better tolerated than conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy and
this would significantly improve the quality of life of those affected,"
says study leader Lorenz Kadletz-Wanke, summarising the key finding
of the research, which was conducted at MedUni Vienna's Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in collaboration with Lukas Kenner (MedUni Vienna's Department of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Animal Pathology at Vetmeduni Vienna) and Stefan Stoiber (MedUni Vienna's Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy).
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Medical_University_of_Vienna. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Faris F. Brkic, Stefan Stoiber, Tobias Maier, Elisabeth Gurnhofer,
Lukas
Kenner, Gregor Heiduschka, Lorenz Kadletz-Wanke. Targeting Wnt/Beta-
Catenin Signaling in HPV-Positive Head and Neck Squamous Cell
Carcinoma.
Pharmaceuticals, 2022; 15 (3): 378 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030378 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220419103227.htm
--- up 7 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)