2023-06-04 14:00:00
Monitoring the appearance of tumor cells and studying their genetic characteristics: two very active lines of research to deliver more effective treatments.
DNA analysis not only improves diagnosis, but also holds the promise of new treatments, particularly in the field of cancer. Objective in both cases: to personalize support as much as possible. First track followed: search in the plasma for pieces of DNA released by the tumor cells when they die. Enough to reveal the presence of cancer even before the appearance of the first symptoms. This line of research is the most desirable, but also the most complex. “If the tumor is still in its initial stage, so tiny, the amounts of this circulating tumor DNA [ADNtc] are so weak that they remain undetectable by current instruments”, says Patrizia Paterlini-Bréchot, professor of oncology and cell biology at the University of Paris-Descartes.
For her part, the specialist and her team have developed a test, called ISET, which consists of a very sharp filtering of rare cells circulating in the bloodincluding tumor cells, making it possible to identify early cancer. “This is a game changer. We will soon be able to detect when a person goes from ‘cancer-free’ to ‘developing cancer’ and offer them personalized treatment.“assures Patrizia Paterlini-Bréchot.
Development of theranostic tests
All over the world, researchers are working on the development of so-called theranostic tests (combination of “therapeutic” and “diagnostic”): these analyze the genetic abnormalities in the tumor itself – an altered gene or a protein with too strong, too weak or abnormal activity – to then target, according to these specificities, the most effective therapy to make it regress.
Curb the disease with an antibody combined with chemotherapy
At the ASCO World Cancer Congress (American organization bringing together oncologists) in June 2022, one of the great advances concerned a very specific metastatic breast cancer. A conjugated antibody (i.e. coupled with chemotherapy) has shown good results. Its specificity? It binds to a molecular target on the surface of tumor cells and then delivers the chemotherapy directly inside these cells. After 28 months, it reduced the risk of breast cancer progression by half compared to chemotherapy and the risk of death by 36%. More efficient therefore, and also less toxic.
This treatment shows promise in ovarian cancer, lung and colon. Only downside: if it lengthens the hope of survival, it does not heal. “With these targeted therapies, we are able to kill certain tumor cells, not all of them. The patient goes into remission for a variable period, but when other tumor cells multiply, he relapses,” emphasizes Patrizia Paterlini. Hence the importance of detecting and intervening as early as possible.
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⋙ Can we read the future of our health in our DNA?
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⋙ These 4 symptoms might be signs of early colorectal cancer
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