Education

UF researchers develop experimental drug that kills triple-negative breast cancer cells with toxic fats

University of Florida scientists have identified an experimental compound, DH20931, that targets triple-negative breast cancer — one of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat forms of the disease — by flooding cancer cells with toxic fat-like molecules called ceramides. The drug works by activating an enzyme called CerS2, which ramps up ceramide production until cancer cells are overwhelmed. Early laboratory tests using human-derived tumors in mice showed the compound to be low in toxicity, though further research would be needed before any human trials could proceed.

Sources: UF News