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Photo by Chris Sant Fournier

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Researchers at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics are exploring a promising three-drug treatment for lung cancer, aimed at reducing tumour growth and preventing cancer spread.

The treatment involves two gene-therapy drugs designed to target specific genes responsible for cancer, combined with a third drug which reduces the activity of certain proteins involved in cancer. Early laboratory results show encouraging progress. If successful, the treatment could shrink tumours and reduce the risk of metastasis, while minimizing side effects when used at the correct doses.

The research, led by Dr Vanessa Petroni Magri and Prof. Anthony Fenech, has shown that low concentrations of the three drugs can kill lung cancer cells, with promising selectivity. The team is now working on 3D cell culture models, sometimes referred to as "mini organs" which better replicate the tumour environment in the body. Aiming to combine the drugs into a single treatment, the team is collaborating with research institutions in France, Portugal, and Canada.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Malta, and the disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat. This research could offer new hope for treating resistant tumours. However, the treatment is still in the early stages, and any new drug has to go through several years of structured laboratory and clinical testing before it can be considered for approval.

This research is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology through grants provided by Xjenza Malta and supported by the R&I Technology Development Program and the Internationalisation Partnership Awards Scheme Plus (IPAS+).