After two decades of hard work, researchers at City of Hope have developed a promising new cancer therapy that targets proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a molecule that plays a crucial role in the replication and repair of cells. The new treatment has shown remarkable success in preclinical research, selectively killing most solid tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

Unlike traditional cancer treatments, which often cause severe side effects by damaging healthy cells alongside cancerous ones, the investigational pill known as AOH1996 targets mutated cancer cells exclusively. The new therapy both inhibits DNA repair and pauses cell DNA synthesis, leading to a type of cell death known as apoptosis in cancer cells.

The Phase 1 clinical trial, which is testing the safety of the new therapy in people with reoccurring solid tumors, is expected to continue for the next two years. The first patient to receive AOH1996 is reportedly doing well. Eligible patients include adults with solid tumors who have not responded to standard treatments, and participating patients will be asked to take the medication in pill form twice a day.

The development of AOH1996 is particularly significant because PCNA was previously viewed as an "undruggable" therapeutic target. The new treatment's effectiveness in preclinical research opens up the possibility of developing more personalized, targeted cancer medicines in the future. If AOH1996 is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, it could be used in combination with existing therapies to enhance cancer-killing effects while reducing side effects.