2015 will have been a year of good news for the fight against melanoma. Several trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of new molecules against the most aggressive forms of these cancers, which until now were very resistant to treatment. In addition to these immunotherapies and these targeted therapies, researchers from Strasbourg are betting on a more surprising molecule, inspired by a substance present in a medicinal plant, as told by The Parisian.
French scientists, whose project has just been rewarded by the ARC Foundation, have synthesized the molecule, a flavagline, in the laboratory, improving the natural formula. This substance is present in the bark of small Asian shrubs, where it destroys the larvae of insects that could harm the plant. Scientists have tried to direct the action of the molecule against tumors, so that “they can no longer get rid of it”, they explain in Le Parisien.
The synthetic molecule has so far only been tested on animal models, but the results obtained can give hope of significant therapeutic interest. The treated mice indeed showed reduced tumor growth rates.
More interestingly, this molecule could be an adjuvant of choice for other already existing therapies. Flavagline has in fact made it possible to reduce the cardiovascular complications associated with certain chemotherapies. Above all, this molecule could extend the duration of effectiveness of some of the innovative therapies used in this type of metastasized cancer.
Laurent Désaubry, however, remains cautious about the possible benefits for patients: clinical trials could not, according to the researcher, start before 5 years, for lack of means. It is possible, however, faced with such results, that a pharmaceutical laboratory proposes, as is often the case, to buy back the patents developed by this Strasbourg team to accelerate the development of this treatment.
