Study demonstrates potential of anti-cancer drug

Monocarboxylate transporters (MT) inhibitors are an effective treatment for lung cancer when combined with radiotherapy, according to a new study.

Many tumours have regions of hypoxia, where there is a shortage of oxygen, leading to a change in energy production. When this happens, the malignancies start using glycolysis, which produces lactate as a byproduct.

In order to prevent this byproduct from becoming toxic and damaging the tumour, the lactate must be transported out of cells by MTs.

The drug – AZD3965 – inhibits a specific MT, MTC1, in lung cancer cells. Researchers from the Manchester Pharmacy School at The University of Manchester have investigated the effect of this drug when used in combination with radiotherapy.

Results of the study revealed that AZD3965 blocked the transport of lactate in and out of lung cancer cells and increased glycolysis, resulting in reduced tumour growth in mice.

Furthermore, when combined with radiotherapy, there was a greater anti-tumour effect compared to using either the therapy or AZD3965 alone.

Professor Ian Stratford, lead author of the study, said: “It looks like using AZD3965 to block MCT1 is a great way to specifically target tumours, by harnessing changes in their metabolism.

“This drug is currently being tested in clinical trials as a single agent, and we've shown that combining this drug with radiotherapy could offer a new treatment approach for cancer patients.”