Australian National University (ANU) scientists, in collaboration with Canberra Health Services, have kicked off a pioneering clinical 'basket' trial aimed at aggressive cancers fueled by the elusive MYC protein.
At the center of this study stands PMR-116, an experimental drug developed in partnership with biotech firm Pimera Therapeutics and backed by a federal grant. PMR-116 disrupts ribosomal biogenesis, the cellular engine that MYC-driven tumors hijack to fuel rapid growth.
According to ANU hematologist Mark Polizzotto, the early data challenge the belief that MYC is untouchable, marking a potential turning point in cancer research.
This innovative trial groups participants based on molecular biomarkers rather than tumor location, streamlining the search for effective treatments across prostate, breast, ovarian and blood cancers.
Recruitment begins in late 2025 at major hospitals in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, with priority for patients whose cancers have resisted standard therapies.
ANU professor Ross Hannan, co-developer of PMR-116, says this approach serves as a blueprint for future precision oncology, focusing on cancer's molecular drivers to speed up therapies around the globe.
If successful, the trial could redefine treatment paradigms worldwide, offering new hope for patients facing cancers once deemed untreatable.
Reference(s):
Researchers launch pioneering trial targeting untreatable cancers
cgtn.com
