A drug combination eliminates up to 80% of cancer cells in preclinical studies without affecting healthy cells
A team of researchers from the IDIVAL Health Research Institute and physicians from the Hematology Department of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital has published in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy the study titled “Inhibition of NEDDylation enhances the cytostatic effect of Rohinitib on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.” The work provides new evidence supporting a potential treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common type of leukemia in adults in Western countries.
The study describes how the combination of two drugs — Pevonedistat and Rohinitib — achieves high efficacy in cellular models of the disease. Specifically, the researchers observed that this strategy induces the death of nearly 80% of leukemic cells within just 72 hours, while significantly preserving the viability of healthy cells.
An Innovative Protein-Based Strategy
Unlike traditional approaches focused on genetic mutations, this project adopts a protein-centered perspective, targeting the direct executors of cellular functions. On one hand, Pevonedistat blocks a process known as neddylation, a protein modification found to be altered in CLL. On the other, Rohinitib inhibits the translation of proteins regulated by EIF4A1, a key factor that is overactivated in several types of cancer.
The results show that simultaneously targeting both processes enhances the antitumor effect, paving the way for exploring new pharmacological combinations with a well-defined molecular basis.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
Although the study remains in the preclinical phase, its conclusions represent a promising advance. The next step will be to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of this combination in animal models of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. If these results are confirmed, the research could lay the groundwork for future clinical trials in patients.
Moreover, the researchers highlight that the cellular processes blocked by Pevonedistat and Rohinitib are not exclusive to CLL, but are also present in other cancer types. This suggests that the strategy could have a broader therapeutic impact, offering new treatment options in the fight against various neoplasms.
About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common hematologic cancer in adults in Western countries. It is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of B lymphocytes. Although it is currently incurable, existing treatments help control the disease. However, the emergence of drug resistance underscores the need to explore new therapeutic alternatives.
The research carried out in Valdecilla offers a promising avenue that could both improve patient survival and deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease.
