A revolutionary cancer drug has been developed that specifically targets and destroys solid tumors while sparing healthy cells, offering new hope for cancer treatment. After two decades of research, scientists at City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles, USA, have created the drug AOH1996, named in honor of Anna Olivia Healy, a young girl who passed away from childhood cancer in 2005.
The drug targets a previously “undruggable” protein called proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is vital for tumor growth. By disrupting PCNA’s function in cancer cells, the drug halts tumor growth without affecting normal cells. Laboratory tests on 70 cancer cell lines—including breast, prostate, brain, ovarian, and lung cancers—have shown its effectiveness.
Dr. Linda Malkas, the lead researcher, explained that the molecule selectively disrupts DNA replication and repair in cancer cells. She compared its effect to a snowstorm shutting down flights, but only for cancer cells, leaving healthy ones untouched.
The drug’s promising results have led to a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy in humans. Dr. Malkas highlighted that AOH1996 can work on its own or in combination with other treatments, offering a potential new approach to personalized cancer therapy.