A researchers’ team from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) Department of Chemistry and its partners are developing compounds to treat Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumours.

UTSA’s partners include UT Health San Antonio’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Mays Cancer Center.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recently awarded a $3m grant to the researchers’ team.

Beginning on 1 January, the grant follows $2m funding from the NCI earlier that supported laboratory studies yielding fundamental understandings which are required for progressing the development of the drug.

The new compounds imitate the sex hormone estrogen activity on a cell protein known as estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta), which is known to suppress cancer.

UTSA said that males and females have estrogen. However, females have higher estrogen levels, and more men are diagnosed with GBM than women.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The researchers’ team is expecting that ER-beta might help to treat GBM, as it suppresses cancer by activating thousands of genes which together have tumour-stunting effects.

The San Antonio research team is developing a small molecule which will uniquely attach to ER-beta and improve gene activation that helps suppress glioblastoma growth.

UT Health San Antonio Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Professor Ratna Vadlamudi said: “This research proposal is based on strong preliminary data showing that ER-beta exerts tumour-suppressive functions in glioblastoma.

“This proposal will develop novel ER-beta drugs that promote tumour suppression, leading to a new therapeutic modality to treat GBM.”

The scientists plan to go through iterations of ER-beta agonists to develop a new clinical strategy and bring hope to GBM-affected patients and families.

They aim to complete validation using preclinical models and later evaluate the molecules in clinical trials in the next two to three years.

This content was updated on 25 January 2024