Targeting chemo-kines in breast cancer
American and French researchers have identified CXC chemokine receptor 1 as a new target for blocking the formation of breast cancer stem cells that drive tumor growth and metastasis.1 The findings could represent a repurposing opportunity for Italian biotech Dompe Farmaceutici S.p.A., which is exploring new indications for its small molecule inhibitor of the receptor after the compound missed the primary endpoint in Phase II transplant dysfunction trials.
The therapeutic rationale for targeting cancer stem cells is clear: deplete the subset of cancer cells with the ability to self-renew and generate the full range of cells that make up a bulk tumor2 so the disease cannot progress or relapse. The challenge has been identifying druggable targets unique to cancer stem cells...