They provide a new therapeutic target for treating a particularly aggressive type of liver cancer.

Researchers Best University of Navarra identified a new therapeutic target that could revolutionize the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), particularly aggressive liver cancer and difficult to treat. Results, Published in the British magazine Gut., They give new hope in the fight against the disease the incidence of which has been increasing in recent years.

cholangiocarcinoma This is one of the biggest therapeutic challenges in oncology, as current treatments have limited effectiveness, Seema notes. Research grouptogether with its national and international collaborators, defined the therapeutic target, PRMT5 enzymewhich “plays a decisive role” in the development of this Cancer so deadly. This discovery opens up new possibilities to develop more effective treatments.

“The study shows that PRMT5 enzyme levels are increased in patients with CCA, and this increase is associated with later stages of the disease. By blocking the PRMT5 enzyme using drugs already approved for other types of tumors, we were able to stop the growth of OCA tumor cells.” explains Dr. Matias AvilaResearch Director and Co-Director of the Cima Solid Tumors program, integrated into Cancer Center Hospital of the University of Navarra.

Traditional chemotherapy

In addition, the researchers observed that combining these inhibitors with traditional chemotherapy significantly increased the antitumor effect. The results were confirmed in preclinical mouse models. “and has shown great therapeutic potential.”

The study highlights the importance of “epigenetic changes in the CCA and suggests that PRMT5 is a promising therapeutic target.” In addition, it offers a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. in the aggressiveness of this type of tumor. These results could lead to new clinical trials that could significantly improve treatment for this disease.

EU funding

The research project was partially funded by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and the Red de Biomedical Research Center. Diseases of the liver and digestive system (CIBEREHD) within the framework of the international project “TRANSCAN-3” (an international initiative co-financed by the European Union under Horizon 2020) and the Eugenio Rodriguez Pascual Foundation.

Through this project, the AECC Science Foundation is collaborating with 24 other organizations from 17 countries to fund translational projects in the field of cancer. This study, led by Dr. Matias Avila, involved Dr. José Juan Garcia Marin (University of Salamanca, USAL and IBSAL), Dr. Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar (Center for Collaborative Research in Biological Sciences) and Dr. Javier Cubero (Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid), owned by CIBEREHD.

In Spain they are diagnosed every year. 6600 new cases of liver cancerhalf of them are in very advanced stages and are the leading cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption or viral hepatitis. With information from Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), cholangiocarcinoma It accounts for 3% of all neoplasms of the digestive system. The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has increased. in recent years in developed countries.