Why copper could be key to treating a rare childhood cancer (Trientine)

Medical Xpress / University of New South Wales / Nature Communications ^ | Dec. 12, 2024 | Jourdin R. C. Rouaen et al

[ConservativeMind]

The survival rate for children with a rare but deadly cancer could one day be improved by adding an existing drug—which is currently used to manage excess copper in the body—to their treatment.

The drug can be used to weaken tumors and strengthen the fighting capacity of immune cells, increasing the success rate of a cancer treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma from 10% to 50%, new research in mice.

The findings offer hope for those with neuroblastoma, which accounts for 15% of childhood cancer deaths.

Despite aggressive treatments, children diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma have a 1 in 2 chance of surviving the disease. This drops to 1 in 10, for children who relapse.

For those children, their last chance is Anti-GD2 antibody therapy, said Associate Professor Orazio Vittorio.

"It is one of the most important therapies developed, but it only works if there is a strong immune system," A/Prof. Vittorio said.

That's where the drug TETA (triethylenetetramine), marketed as Cuprior, comes in. While currently used to treat Wilson's disease—a genetic disorder resulting in excess copper build up—it has been used in animal models to weaken neuroblastoma tumors and strengthen neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection and heal injuries, by transferring copper from one to the other.

"It has the double effect of weakening the tumor and empowering the immune system to be strong and fight back," said A/Prof. Vittorio.

"Never ever increase the level of copper you are taking if you have a tumor, because without this drug, all the extra copper available will reach the tumor and make it stronger."

"Copper chelation therapy represents a significant evolution from traditional cancer treatments. It's non-toxic, has demonstrated no concerning side effects, and is already approved for use," Dr. Rouaen said.

[ConservativeMind]

This copper-chelating drug is known as trientine in the US and is available.

However, its use with cancer would need to be off label.

Improving a last ditch saving therapy of Anti-GD2 medicine from 10% to a 50% success rate, tells me I’d ask for it for my child.

[ConservativeMind]

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[BipolarBob]

New years Resolution : Quit swallowing pennies. Too much copper = BAD.