Novel weapon to target chemotherapy resistant neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is an aggressive cancer that appears in young children and displays an increased resistance towards current chemotherapy. Researchers from VIB-UGent and UAntwerpen discovered a new molecular mechanism that can kill neuroblastoma cells in mice. In this process, Withaferine A, a compound derived from a medicinal plant extract from the traditional medicine in India, plays a key role. These findings were published in the prestigious scientific journal ‘Journal of Clinical Investigation’ (link to the publication). The results suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to kill cancer cells via ferroptosis, a specific type of cell death.
The research was conducted in collaboration between the teams of dr. Tom Vanden Berghe (VIB-UGent), prof. Wim Vanden Berghe (UAntwerpen), Prof. Peter Vandenabeele (CRIG group leader) and dr. Behrouz Hassannia (CRIG member). Also the lab of CRIG group leader prof. Bruno De Geest was involved in the research.