“Our cancer-killing pill is like a snowstorm that closes a key airline hub, shutting down all flights in and out only in planes carrying cancer cells,” says the professor who has been developing the new drug over the past 20 years.
The new drug has been in development for 20 years, and is now undergoing pre-clinical research in the US.
Known as AOH1996, it targets a cancerous variant of a protein called proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
In its mutated form, PCNA is “critical” in the replication of DNA, and the repair of all “expanding tumours”.
AOH1996 is being worked on by City of Hope, one of America’s largest cancer research and treatment organisations.
Professor Linda Malkas, who has been developing the drug, explained: “PCNA is like a major airline terminal hub containing multiple plane gates.
“Data suggests PCNA is uniquely altered in cancer cells, and this fact allowed us to design a drug that targeted only the form of PCNA in cancer cells.
“Our cancer-killing pill is like a snowstorm that closes a key airline hub, shutting down all flights in and out only in planes carrying cancer cells.”
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