Targeted therapy to fight a tumor incurable until now. With his research team, Antonio Iavarone, professor in the Department of Neurology of Columbia University Medical Center, has made a discovery that might change the fight against cancer. A study published in July in Science explains how Iavarone has isolated a new genetic alternation that causes a subgroup of the most malignant brain tumors. At the same time, he identified a targeted therapy to treat this form of cancer. “And that’s only the tip of the iceberg” Iavarone explained to Aspen. He is now researching cures for other types of cancer.
Your laboratory has just published a study that identifies a genetic mutation that causes some brain tumors. What are the clinical implications?
We studied one of the most malignant types of cancer, brain tumors: still an unsolved problem. Considerable progress has been made over the last 10-15 years for other tumors, but no therapeutic targets for brain tumors were found. Cancer research has identified molecular alterations that cause a state of dependence in other types of tumors. These alterations, only found in diseased cells, can be the targets for treatment. Now, we finally have a target for some types of brain tumors. The drugs are already available; we only need to decide which to use for each patient.
How did the study develop?
Our aim was to find new types of molecular alterations. Preparations did not actually take that long, and the experimentation on lab animals took no longer than a year. This discovery is only the tip of the iceberg. The main contribution of our study was the discovery of interactions among genes that cause molecular alterations in some forms of the disease, in line with the personalized medicine approach. Every patient has a unique set of molecular alterations that we need to study to find a suitable treatment. That is the direction in which we are heading.
How was this discovery possible?
The chance to identify these alterations comes from new experimental techniques that allow us to study the tumor’s entire genome. Initially, mapping of the human genome took a long time, but now it is possible in only 24-48 hours. That’s how we started out. We can treat brain tumors that don’t respond to standard treatment thanks to the genomic revolution. We used to believe that there are standard treatments for all types of cancer, but that isn’t true.
Italian researchers and labs also took part in the study. What was their role? How can we enhance this kind of excellence?
It was the collaboration of many Italian researchers and centers that made this study possible. Besta Neurological Institute in Milan was indispensible because it supplied the tumor material we worked with. Today, Besta – which freezes and preserves all the tumors that are surgically removed – is on the front line world wide.
If we want to enhance the existing excellence, but also to create new centers, we need ambitious projects, new research centers that can also attract private funding. That would make Italy competitive with other countries in numerous fields of medical research. Investments in these projects would bring considerable results, but would – most of all – lead to better training. We have many extremely valid young people coming from Italian institutions. Now, we need to create new opportunities in Italy, possibly by drawing up a road map to turn proposals into concrete plans.
