Researchers unveil a targeted drug that lengthens metastasis-free time in bone cancer models
A team from the University of East Anglia has introduced a drug aimed at bone cancer that markedly prolongs the period during which metastases do not appear in mice. The findings were reported in the Journal of Bone Oncology and highlight a potential new path for treatment of primary bone cancers.
Primary bone cancer starts in the bone itself rather than spreading there from another location. It disproportionately affects young people and represents a significant global health challenge with roughly 52,000 new cases each year. Current treatment options, including chemotherapy and limb amputation, are grueling and can leave lasting effects. Even with present therapies, the five-year survival rate remains around 42 percent, as the disease often advances to the lungs and other organs.
Researchers examined bone and tumor samples from 19 patients treated at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. Their work pinpointed the RUNX2 gene as being continuously active in primary bone cancer and linked this activity to rapid metastatic spread. This insight helped drive the development of a novel approach to curb cancer progression.
The scientists then created CADD522, a drug designed to inhibit the RUNX2 protein. When tested in mice, the treatment significantly extended metastasis-free survival by about 50 percent without the need for chemotherapy or surgical intervention. Importantly, the drug showed effectiveness across major subtypes of bone cancer and did not trigger the toxic side effects commonly associated with traditional chemotherapy.
Leading the research was Dr. Darrell Green from the Norwich Medical School. He has remarked that his motivation to study primary bone cancer grew after the loss of a close friend to the disease during adolescence, underscoring the personal stakes behind the work.
At present, CADD522 is undergoing formal toxicology assessments, and investigators indicate human trials could begin in the near future as part of a regulated evaluation process. The study adds a hopeful dimension to bone cancer research by presenting a targeted strategy that may improve outcomes while reducing the burden of treatment on patients.
Attribution: Journal of Bone Oncology. Additional context and ongoing updates from the researchers will be provided as trials progress and regulatory reviews proceed.