Can an anti-inflammatory drug prevent melanoma, aggressive skin cancer, to develop oneself ? This is the hope maintained by professors Bruno Ségui, researcher in biology at the Oncopole Toulouse Cancer Research Center (CRCT) and Nicolas Meyer, onco-dermatologist at IUCT-Oncopole. The two scientists have just launched a trial on the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory to treat patients affected by melanoma when it presents a 50% risk of metastasizing. This innovative therapeutic approach is a world first, according to the scientists.
The study will focus on a panel of six patients before benefiting six others if the first tests do not show any adverse effects. In 18 months, the researchers plan to target 18 patients before they can eventually scale up the treatment.
An expected explosion in melanoma cases
The anti-inflammatory drug that Toulouse residents rely on is already used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, Crohn’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Yes immunotherapy has been proven to help the immune system fight cancer cells in advanced melanoma, this treatment has limits according to specialists. In question, a protein called TNF (Tumor necrosis factor) which plays the spoilsport and comes to ruin the effects of immunotherapy by weakening even more the immune system. “When you use immunotherapy, you create inflammation in the cancer. And that inflammation will have a negative effect. It will allow cancer cells to protect yourself from immunotherapy and the tumor can resume its progression “, explains Professor Bruno Ségui, quoted by AFP.
The anti-inflammatory at the heart of the current trial could thus exert an anti-TNF action to stop the advance of the cancer.
Research around melanoma treatments is a major field of experimentation, knowing that current data point to an explosion in melanoma cases in the years to come. Professor Nicolas Meyer anticipates a doubling of cases within twenty years, with an increased need for immunotherapy treatments.
Read also:
Skin cancer: a blood test to prevent a recurrence
