New Hope for Treatment-Resistant Melanoma
Cancer therapy resistance is a major hurdle in medicine, despite advancements in targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Combining different treatments is crucial to overcome this resistance.
Resistance can arise from genetic changes in cancer cells or from them adapting to become "drug-tolerant persisters" (DTPs). These DTPs rely heavily on their mitochondria, the cell's energy centers.
Targeting this mitochondrial function with antibiotics like tetracyclines offers a promising approach to eliminate DTPs and improve treatment outcomes.
Tetracyclines: A Repurposed Weapon Against Melanoma?
Research suggests tetracyclines, a class of older antibiotics, could be repurposed to target therapy-resistant melanoma. These antibiotics may not directly enhance immunotherapy response, but they could be used in combination for melanoma treatment, potentially slowing tumor growth.
J. Exp. Med. 2021 Vol. 218 No. 9