{"id":27735,"date":"2021-12-17T16:15:51","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T16:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=364032"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:07","slug":"when-used-together-chemo-and-cardiac-drug-improve-chances-of-cancer-responsiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/when-used-together-chemo-and-cardiac-drug-improve-chances-of-cancer-responsiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"When Used Together, Chemo and Cardiac Drug Improve Chances of Cancer Responsiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Researchers at Houston Methodist may have hit a breakthrough recently as they discovered a combination treatment that significantly improves the chances that a patient\u2019s drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancer will respond positively to the treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The research team, led by Dr. Jenny Chang<\/a>, director of the Cancer Center and Emily Herrmann Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, studied a drug that is typically used to treat heart failure. They combined this drug, called L-NMMA, with chemotherapy treatments and were able to successfully cause tumor regressions in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

While patients with drug-resistant cancers typically have only about a 25 to 30 percent<\/a> chance of responding to drugs targeting their immune systems, those patients treated with L-NMMA had a response rate of 50 percent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Adobe Stock\/benicoma<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

L-NMMA, which was already on the market for the treatment of cardiac issues, has been through the FDA review process and should therefore have an easier time getting through again and getting out to the public faster.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an effective way of cutting short drug development and getting it into patients as quickly as possible,\u201d Chang says. \u201cThis process has taken us less than five years and saved billions of dollars, giving us the opportunity to provide this new therapy faster for our patients.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Chang and her team will now begin planning a multinational phase-three trial<\/a> to evaluate L-NMMA\u2019s if efficacy in more patients. If successful, they will move on to filing for US food and drug administration approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Adobe Stock\/Monkey Business<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Chang is using generous gifts from the community to get important treatment and help out to underserved healthcare \u201cdeserts\u201d in the area and gladly shares her research breakthroughs with the rest of the research community so they can be used to help as many people as possible. This isn\u2019t Dr. Chang\u2019s first breakthrough, either. Her work has advanced health science in many areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with \u2018Agatha Christie,’\u201d Chang explains. \u201cI love detective movies. This is like a mystery to solve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Chang knew from age 12 that she wanted to go to medical school. After several members of her family were affected by cancer, she knew helping people with cancer would be important to her. At the time, there were not nearly as many treatment options available as there are now.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Adobe Stock\/Elnur<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was chemo, chemo, chemo,\u201d Chang recalls. \u201cNow it\u2019s much better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank goodness for innovators like Dr. Chang who work hard to make sure every cancer patient has the care they need, even if that means inventing a new treatment. The L-NMMA and chemo combo<\/a> stands a chance to change the lives of so many triple-negative breast cancer patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just learning so much more than we ever thought possible 10 years ago. That\u2019s what I wake up for,\u201d she says. \u201cThere\u2019s such a huge need out there, and that keeps me up at night. That also motivates me to work a little harder and a little more. I want to be able to help more people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Support those fighting Breast Cancer at The Breast Cancer Site<\/span> for free! \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n