Killing cancer cells by stopping them from using oxygen and sugar

One of the biggest challenges in cancer research is finding treatments that kill cancer cells while leaving the surrounding normal cells intact. This team of pan-Canadian researchers, international collaborators and patient partners has discovered 2 compounds that, when used in combination, not only show promise in achieving this goal but are especially effective against low-survival cancers such as lung, pancreatic and liver cancers.   

With funding from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation, this research team is building on their recent discovery of the selective anti-cancer effects of these 2 compounds, which although previously studied in other situations have yet to be used to treat cancer. The team will further optimize these compounds, study exactly how they work and will progress to clinical trials that will identify those patients likely to be responsive to this novel non-toxic cancer therapy. 

If successful, this project could deliver a life-changing non-toxic treatment to save the lives of people with a large portion of low-survival cancers – without the debilitating side effects of many standard therapies – and put Canadian innovation at the forefront of this field.

Total Amount Awarded over 5 years: $ 7,500,000