The existing cancer drug ponatinib can be repurposed for certain aggressive cancers
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU Singapore), have found that a cancer drug can be repurposed for a subset cancers which are currently untreated and often have poor outcomes.
This subset makes up 15% all cancers, and is particularly prevalent in aggressive tumours like osteosarcomas (bone tumors) and glioblastomas (brain tumors).
The cancerous cells are \”immortalized\” by a mechanism known as alternative lengthening telomeres. However, the team has shown that ponatinib – a cancer drug approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration – blocks the key steps of the ALT mechanism, causing it to fail.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-cancer-drug-ponatinib-repurposed-aggressive.html
