Repurposed pinworm medication shows ‘promise’ as treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma
Pyrvinium pamoate significantly shrank Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) tumors, indicating potential as a therapeutic option for this aggressive skin cancer.
Early pre‑clinical studies uncovered that the anthelmintic pyrvinium pamoate, a known inhibitor of the Wnt pathway, markedly reduced tumor growth in vitro and in murine models of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The drug achieved significant tumor regression at higher doses, and the authors suggest that combination with existing chemotherapies or immunotherapies could enhance therapeutic efficacy. A phase‑1 trial of pyrvinium is underway for pancreatic cancer, highlighting the compound’s broader anticancer potential.
MCC is a rare and aggressive skin cancer with high mortality and limited systemic treatment options. Demonstrating that a repurposed, inexpensive drug can inhibit MCC tumor growth offers a promising new therapeutic avenue and underscores the value of exploring existing drugs for unmet cancer needs.
Bizonyítékszint: Feltételezés / hírjelzés. Nincs önálló tudományos bizonyíték.
Kapcsolódó jelek
- Recurrence and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Positive, Negative, or Not Performed Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Epidemiology, Target, and Therapy
- The biology and treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma: current understanding and research priorities
- Avelumab in patients with chemotherapy‑refractory metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: a multicentre, single‑group, open‑label, phase 2 trial
- Update on Merkel Cell Carcinoma