What is the truth? American research institutions claim to have developed drugs that can kill all solid tumors for treatment
A US cancer treatment and research institution, Hope City National Medical Center, recently announced that in preclinical studies, scientists at the institution have developed a drug called AOH1996 that can kill all solid malignant tumors. This sounds very attractive and even made it on the hot search list for a while, but what is the truth? Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News reporter interviewed pharmaceutical experts and solid tumor researchers.
[Using it alone does not have much effect on the treatment of solid tumors]
This investigational drug AOH1996 is a small molecule inhibitor targeting PCNA. The so-called PCNA is a protein that exists in eukaryotic cells and plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and repair. Therefore, it is used as a tumor progression marker and also considered a potential anti-cancer target.
This study showed that using AOH1996 alone increased the median survival rate of mice by approximately 11.5% compared to the placebo control group, and no statistically significant difference was observed. When using another marketed chemotherapy drug, irinotecan, alone, the median survival of mice increased by 34.6%; When combined with AOH1996 and irinotecan for treatment, the median survival rate of mice increased by 55.4%.
"Based on the data from the aforementioned preclinical studies, the use of AOH1996 alone does not have much effect on the treatment of solid tumors." Zhang Hongtao, former associate professor of research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and founder of Hangzhou Saidekang Biotechnology Co., Ltd., told Jiefang Daily · Shangguan News that although its combined treatment has a more significant effect, it still needs to be verified in clinical trials for its effectiveness, safety, and other aspects.
And an undeniable fact is that about 90% of anticancer drugs that have shown activity in animal experiments will fail in phase I clinical trials.
Moreover, according to current drug approval standards, the control group in clinical trials is not only receiving placebo, but must also receive current clinical standard treatment. "For drug approval, it only makes sense if it is more effective than existing treatment plans, otherwise it cannot be jointly approved for marketing," said Zhang Hongtao.
This is completely different from "killing all solid malignant tumors"
"Besides the fact that PD-1 technology is used to stimulate the human immune system, it is difficult to demonstrate in animal experiments. Generally speaking, only by completely killing tumor cells in animal experiments can there be greater hope in human clinical trials." A researcher who has been deeply involved in the field of solid tumors for many years and does not want to be named said, this research in the United States can be described as "calm and quiet", with almost no discussion. He specifically went to read the paper because he received a series of related messages forwarded by scholars and investors.
He noticed that a set of animal experiments in the paper only tested three tumor models, including neuroblastoma, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer, showing the clearance results of AOH1996 on tumor cells. "The results of this animal experiment are very average. No tumor cells in any model have been completely eliminated, which is completely different from 'killing all solid malignant tumors'. It is somewhat out of context and sensationalism. Moreover, tumors are prone to developing drug resistance and quickly growing again. Based on existing data, the substantive significance needs further investigation."
The researcher told the Jiefang Daily Shangguan News reporter that as long as early solid tumors meet the surgical indications, the preferred treatment method is still surgery, and only late stage tumors will be treated with drugs. The reason why drug development for advanced solid tumors is difficult is twofold: on the one hand, solid tumors are prone to drug resistance, and on the other hand, most of the cancer cells in advanced solid tumors have already spread, making it more like a "legion battle". Its complexity in humans is far beyond what animal experiments can simulate. "Of course, from an innovative perspective, exploring PCNA as a tumor drug target in this study is understandable in itself, but it is important to avoid over interpreting studies that still require clinical validation."
