This new drug could break cancer’s resistance to treatment

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine developed an experimental drug called CS18 that may help overcome cancer drug resistance. The drug targets TopBP1 protein, which regulates multiple biological processes supporting cancer cell growth and survival. CS18 was tested on several cancer types including triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung adenocarcinoma. When combined with existing treatments such as PARP inhibitors or osimertinib, CS18 killed cancer cells more effectively than either treatment alone. In lung cancer cells resistant to osimertinib, CS18 restored sensitivity to the drug. Animal models showed significant tumor growth reduction with no major toxicity signs. The research was published in Science Advances.