An experimental drug targeting triple-negative breast cancer overwhelms cancer cells with toxic fats, according to new tests on human-derived tumors in mice. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks three common drug targets, making it one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
The compound, known as DH20931, appears to push cancer cells past their limits by triggering a surge in fat-like molecules called ceramides. Already under stress, the cells cannot cope and ultimately self-destruct.
In lab experiments, the drug also made standard chemotherapy more effective. When combined with the commonly used drug doxorubicin, researchers were able to reduce the dose needed to kill cancer cells by about fivefold.
Read more about Candidate Breast Cancer Drug Overloads Tumors With “Surge” of Toxic Lipids.
