Johns Hopkins researchers develop anti-cancer compound

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the US have developed a compound to block glutamine metabolism, slowing tumour growth, altering the tumour microenvironment and boosting the anti-tumour T-cell generation. The compound, JHU083, is a prodrug version of glutamine antagonist, DON, designed to become active and functional within the tumour. As glutamine is necessary for tumour metabolism, JHU083 is expected to help treat various cancers. Researchers added that the drug selectively targets tumour cells. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy associated director Jonathan Powell said: “By targeting glutamine metabolism, we were not only able to inhibit tumour growth and change the tumour microenvironment but also alter the T-cells in a way that we markedly enhanced immunotherapy for cancer.” When tested in mice models of colon cancer, lymphoma and melanoma, the drug candidate was able to significantly reduce tumour growth and improve survival by targeting tumour cell metabolism and tumour microenvironment.