Eureka win for researchers behind new anti-cancer strategy

Chemotherapy and radiation are two common treatments used to destroy or stop the growth of cancer cells, to prevent tumours from spreading.

But these treatments can also affect healthy cells and damage the cells’ DNA, leading to debilitating side effects, including nausea, fatigue and hair loss.

WEHI scientists Associate Professor Tim Thomas and Professor Anne Voss have led groundbreaking research in developing a new class of drugs that can put cancer cells ‘to sleep’, without the harmful side effects caused by conventional therapies.

Their pioneering work was recently recognized at Australia’s most distinguished science awards, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, with the pair winning the 2023 UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific Research.

Breakthrough treatment

The new class of drugs developed by Assoc Prof Thomas and Prof Voss have an unprecedented ability to stop cancer cells from reproducing and spreading – without damaging the cells’ DNA.

Prof Voss, Joint Head of WEHI’s Epigenetics and Development Division, said the pair felt honoured to be Eureka Prize recipients.

“This win is a testament to the collaborative power and the unwavering commitment of so many colleagues that has underpinned our work towards findings better treatments for a disease that still impacts millions of people worldwide,” she said.

“The best anti-cancer treatments currently available to patients can still impact their quality of life.

“This new class of drug compounds stop cancer cells from dividing and proliferating by switching off their ability to continue the cell cycle. This stops the cancer cells in their track, preventing them from spreading.

“Crucially, in arresting tumour growth, the new compounds don’t damage the cells’ DNA, a critical difference between this new class of compounds and standard cancer therapies.”

The research, spanning over a decade, involves a collaboration with the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) and the Cancer Therapeutics CRC (CTx).

New cancer weapon

Assoc Prof Thomas said this novel class of drugs has the potential to be an entirely new strategy towards fighting cancer.

“Our research has already shown great promise in halting cancer progression in models of blood and liver cancers. This is a significant step forward in combating the global health challenge of cancer.”

After further drug development collaboration with the CRC for Cancer Therapeutics and Pfizer, drugs based on the work of Associate Professor Tim Thomas and Professor Anne Voss are now in clinical trial for the treatment of cancer.

THIS NEW CLASS OF DRUG COMPOUNDS STOP CANCER CELLS FROM DIVIDING AND PROLIFERATING BY SWITCHING OFF THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE CELL CYCLE. THIS STOPS THE CANCER CELLS IN THEIR TRACKS, PREVENTING THEM FROM SPREADING.