Innovative Drug Strategy Enhances Chemotherapy by Targeting Cancer Cell Adaptation

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a groundbreaking drug approach that significantly boosts the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Unlike traditional methods that directly attack cancer cells, this novel strategy focuses on preventing cancer cells from evolving resistance to treatment. The key lies in disrupting the cells' ability to adapt, which has historically been a major obstacle in cancer therapy.

In experiments involving cellular cultures and mouse models of ovarian cancer, the new approach nearly eradicated the disease and tripled the success rate of chemotherapy. The strategy involves reprogramming the physical structure of chromatin—the complex of DNA and proteins inside the cell nucleus—thereby impairing the cancer cells' capacity to adapt and survive.

By using a computational model grounded in physics, the team identified that altering chromatin packing influences a cell’s ability to resist chemotherapy. Screening existing drugs, they discovered that celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory medication already approved for other uses, can modify chromatin architecture. When combined with standard chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel, celecoxib enhanced cancer cell death and reduced tumor growth.

In animal studies, this combination therapy doubled the efficacy of chemotherapy, suggesting that lower doses could be effective in patients, potentially reducing harmful side effects. The findings point toward a new class of compounds called transcriptional plasticity regulators (TPRs), which can modulate chromatin conformation and inhibit cancer cell adaptation.

Beyond cancer, this research opens avenues for treating other diseases linked to cellular memory and chromatin organization, such as neurodegenerative disorders and heart diseases. The ability to reprogram chromatin may enable restoring normal cell function in various pathological conditions.

This innovative approach demonstrates a promising shift in cancer therapy—focusing on disabling cancer cells' adaptive mechanisms rather than solely aiming to kill them directly. Future studies and clinical trials could lead to more effective, less toxic treatment options for patients.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-drug-strategy-blocks-cancer-cells.html