Drug used to treat cocaine addiction could pave the way for new treatment for advanced colon cancer

New cutting-edge research from the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) shows that vanoxerin, a drug originally developed to treat cocaine addiction, improves the ability of advanced colorectal cancer stem cells by essentially rewiring key gene networks. It has been found that it may interfere with

This new research was announced on natural cancer A research team led by Dr. Yannick Benoit, principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Faculty of Medicine) at the University of Ottawa, has revealed that vanoxerin plays a completely unexpected mechanism in cancer.

Researchers observed that vanoxerin exerts powerful effects in suppressing cancer stem cell activity in tissues from colon cancer patients and tumors transplanted into laboratory animals. It interferes with a protein that transports dopamine, a brain chemical involved in the sensation of pleasure and reward, and inhibits an enzyme called G9a in colorectal tumors.

“Notably, tumors treated with vanoxerin become more susceptible to attack by the immune system due to the reactivation of ancient viral DNA fragments that have accumulated in the genome during evolution.Colorectal tumors This discovery is of great importance given that immunotherapies tend to respond poorly to reference materials,” said the six national winners of the Gardner Foundation’s 2022 Early Career Investigator Competition. says Dr. Benoit, one of them.

silent killer

Colorectal cancer (in which cells grow and divide uncontrollably in the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is often treated as a ‘silent disease’ because it usually causes no symptoms in its early stages. It is considered a cancer. Risk increases with age, but new statistics show an alarming increase among young adults.

It is essential to discover new ways to fight off colorectal cancer cells and tumors, as they are often diagnosed at an advanced stage with few treatment options. When looking for a drug that has been safely tested in patients, the most promising option turned out to be vanoxerin, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor.

The research team observed very minimal toxicity from vanoxerin treatment when tested on healthy human and mouse tissue, so much so that Dr. Benoit believes their work “redirects the ‘good stem cells’ in the body.” “It could be a safe way to remove cancer stem cells from colorectal tumors without causing any harm.” organs. ”

New and promising treatments

While prevention and early detection remain our best weapons against colorectal cancer, these highly compelling findings open the door to new and promising treatment options for patients suffering from advanced disease. There is a possibility.

“It is our sincere hope that our research will lead to the development of powerful treatment options in the future, which can significantly increase the chances of survival for those unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with advanced and progressive colorectal cancer.” ,” says Dr. Benoit.

Roots of collaboration

This research benefited from the expertise of, and was conducted in strong collaboration across the Ottawa School of Medicine’s extensive research ecosystem.

The first author is Christopher Bergin, who recently completed his Ph.D. He is an alumnus of Dr. Benoit’s lab, which systematically tested the anti-cancer stem cell properties of vanoxerin in patient-derived organoids. Dr. Rebecca Auer, scientific director of the Cancer Treatment Program at The Ottawa Hospital, provided access to tissue from colorectal cancer patients. Dr. Mario Tiberi and Dr. Michele Ardolino provided important insight and expertise.

While working on this research, Dr. Benoit’s lab welcomed Dr. Tanguy Fenouil, a French gastrointestinal pathologist whose collaboration was key.