Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have made a new molecule that could help treat a very aggressive type of breast cancer called triple‑negative breast cancer.
The molecule is named SU212. It stops an enzyme called ENO1 that many cancer cells use to grow fast.
In experiments with special mice that act like humans, SU212 broke down the ENO1 enzyme. This slowed the tumors and stopped them from spreading.
ENO1 normally helps cells turn sugar into energy. Cancer cells make a lot of this enzyme, so stopping it can starve the tumor.
Because SU212 works on ENO1, scientists think it might help with other cancers too, such as brain, pancreas, and thyroid cancers.
The next step is to move the drug toward human trials. That will need big funding and approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Malhotra, who leads the study, believes this approach could help many patients, especially those who also have diabetes, because their sugar levels are already high.
He joined OHSU in 2020 after work at Stanford and the National Cancer Institute. At OHSU, he helps turn lab discoveries into real treatments for patients.
The research was funded by several U.S. health agencies and private foundations.