Scientists make new breast cancer drug discovery

Scientists have identified a chemical compound that is highly effective at blocking the growth of breast cancer cells.

The compound – called eCF506 - targets a molecule called Src tyrosine kinase that is required for breast cancer cells to grow and spread. The study identified the compound using an approach that uses imaging techniques to directly visualise the effects of candidate drugs on cells.

Drugs that target the same molecule are already being tested in clinical trials. Researchers say eCF506 is different because it is more selective and doesn’t affect other molecules in the cell.

Dr Asier Unciti-Broceta, who led the study at the University’s Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, said: “eCF506 is the first drug candidate of a second generation of Src inhibitors that will not only help to understand the complexity of some cancers but also the development of safer combination therapies.”

Professor Neil Carragher, Head of the Edinburgh Cancer Discovery Unit at the University of Edinburgh, who co-led the study, said: “This candidate drug will need to undergo further preclinical testing before it can be taken forward into clinical trials but these early findings are very promising.

“The result provides further support for our new drug discovery approach which aims to deliver more effective medicines at reduced costs for patients and healthcare providers.”

The study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, was funded by the Medical Research Council, Welcome Trust and the commercialisation catalyst Sunergos Innovations.