[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] On the 15th, the Gilo Research Institute, a foundation where MedPacto CEO Sungjin Kim also serves as the head of the research institute, announced that the combination treatment of Bactosertib and the PRMT5 protein activity inhibitor 'T1-44' was confirmed to inhibit metastasis of pancreatic cancer, reduce tumor size, and increase survival rates.
The results of this joint study by the Gilo Research Institute, MedPacto, the University of Oxford in the UK, and Theragen Bio were published in issue 14 of the international journal Cell Death and Disease.
PRMT5 protein, known as an enzyme that promotes cancer growth, is overexpressed in various cancers including pancreatic cancer. It was recently revealed that patients with high PRMT5 expression have poor prognosis, leading many companies to develop anticancer drugs targeting it. Accordingly, the research team studied the combined therapeutic effect of Bactosertib, which can regulate the TGF-β signaling pathway?a key mechanism related to metastasis?and T1-44, a substance that inhibits the enzymatic activity of PRMT5 protein.
Through joint research with Professor Nick Lathan of the University of Oxford, a leading authority in tumor biology, the team confirmed the anticancer effect of combining 'T1-44' developed by him and Bactosertib in a pancreatic cancer mouse model created by transplanting pancreatic cancer cells.
The study results showed that when Bactosertib and T1-44 were administered together, metastasis to surrounding tissues was reduced compared to T1-44 monotherapy, increasing the survival rate of mice by about 60%. Additionally, tumor size was significantly reduced compared to T1-44 alone. The research team analyzed that Bactosertib modulates the tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the effect of the anticancer drug.
Furthermore, the research team observed changes in the expression of genes related to cancer progression in the combination treatment group of Bactosertib and T1-44, noting distinct changes in genes associated with cancer cell migration, apoptosis processes, and extracellular matrix. In particular, the expression of BTG2, known as a tumor suppressor gene, was significantly increased with the combination treatment.
Gilo Research Institute Director Sungjin Kim stated, "The combination therapy of Bactosertib and T1-44 increased the expression of the tumor suppressor gene BTG2, inhibiting pancreatic cancer metastasis, reducing tumor size, and effectively improving survival rates in the pancreatic cancer mouse model. We expect this combination therapy to become a new option for treating pancreatic cancer patients."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
