Researchers develop new molecules and immune reprogramming to combat cancer

Researchers are developing new methods to combat cancer by targeting tumor survival pathways and immune cell behavior.

Scientists at Aix-Marseille University are developing a small molecule, EB-18, a derivative of 5-fluorouracil. In experimental models involving castration-resistant human prostate cancer, EB-18 reduced disease progression and tumor volume more effectively than 5-fluorouracil or docetaxel. The compound increased cancer cell apoptosis and showed no impact on liver, renal, or metabolic functions, though it did cause a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels. Its effectiveness was also confirmed in three-dimensional organoids derived from prostate cancer patients.

Separately, an international research team has identified a mechanism to reprogram immune cells. Published in PNAS, the study demonstrates that modifying the sugar structures on the surface of macrophages can prevent them from becoming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which typically suppress the immune system and promote tumor growth. By targeting the glycocalyx and reducing specific sialic acid linkages, researchers were able to decrease the interaction between macrophages and cancer cells, resulting in significantly slower tumor growth.