Scientists at the University of Queensland discovered a new drug target to combat cancer drug resistance and halt tumor regrowth.

This breakthrough, led by Assoc. Prof. Helmut Schaider, reveals a previously unknown route for drug development.

"Drug resistance is the single major cause of death in cancer patients," said Schaider said. “For example, almost half of patients with lung cancer die from the disease due to tumour regrowth. Drug resistance affects all cancer types, with adverse outcomes for patients and the healthcare system.”

Dr Schaider said an international research effort was underway into how cancer patients develop resistance to drugs and to find suitable targets for intervention, but so far success had been limited.

“One of the mechanisms which leads to permanent cancer drug resistance is an adaptive process based on a chronic stress response,” he said. “This process accounts for about 40 per cent of cancer patients developing drug resistance. Our research has identified a molecule which is crucial for cancer cells to regain the ability to proliferate while under treatment. The next step is to develop drugs to target this molecule.”

Dr. Schaider and UniQuest's QEDDI are working on small molecule inhibitors for innovative cancer treatments, with UniQuest CEO Dr. Dean Moss optimistic about the therapeutic advancements.

“We are utilising Dr Schaider’s expertise in cancer biology and QEDDI’s drug development capabilities to develop novel inhibitors that could become new medicines to treat patients with advanced solid tumours,” Dr Moss said.

The Translational Research Institute, funded by Cancer Council Queensland and the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation, conducted research on translating academic biomedical research into pharmaceutical innovations.