RCSI and ICR Researchers Identify New Bowel Cancer Drug Combinations
- Researchers using artificial intelligence have identified new drug combinations that show potential for treating the most common type of bowel cancer.
- The subtype accounts for 80-85 per cent of all bowel cancer cases, according to the research findings published in the journal Cancer Cell.
- By bringing together data from patients across multiple countries and integrating DNA, RNA, epigenetic, protein, metabolic, single-cell and clinical data at this scale, we were able to expose...
Researchers using artificial intelligence have identified new drug combinations that show potential for treating the most common type of bowel cancer. The approach uses an AI tool called iPhenMap to map 2,000 patient tumour samples and uncover previously unrecognised biological vulnerabilities in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer.
Mapping the Bowel Cancer Subtype
The subtype accounts for 80-85 per cent of all bowel cancer cases, according to the research findings published in the journal Cancer Cell. Led by the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and London’s Institute of Cancer Research, the team analysed genetic, metabolic protein, and clinical data across the large patient sample.
By bringing together data from patients across multiple countries and integrating DNA, RNA, epigenetic, protein, metabolic, single-cell and clinical data at this scale, we were able to expose connections between tumour biology and therapeutic dependency that would otherwise be missed,
said Prof Anguraj Sadanandam of the Institute of Cancer Research.
Targeting Tumour Vulnerabilities in the Laboratory
The iPhenMap programme created a biological map showing how cancer cells divide, grow, adapt, and interact with their environment. Researchers spotted connections between genetic and metabolic features that previous studies missed by looking at data in isolation.
Laboratory models demonstrated that specific drug combinations could work well to target and treat the cancer. For instance, the targeted drug trametinib significantly reduced tumour growth and extended survival in the laboratory models when combined with other drugs.
Patients with MSS RAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer urgently need better treatment options, particularly when their disease no longer responds to standard therapy,
said Prof Annette Byrne, Head of the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group.
Advancing Toward Clinical Evaluation
The research team intends to use the findings to accelerate the path to clinical testing for bowel cancer using already developed and approved drugs. Investigators also believe the artificial intelligence approach can help identify effective treatments for other tumour types.
While these findings remain preclinical, they highlight promising therapeutic opportunities and provide a strong foundation for further development,
Prof Byrne stated. The next step will be to identify the biological features that predict response and determine how these approaches can be advanced safely towards clinical evaluation.
The study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme through funding awarded to the COLOSSUS project, and by a Research Ireland Project Award to Prof Byrne.