Whats the Objective? The idea is to kill cancer cells, before the cancer kills the human! There will be side effects - we need a risk benefit analysis. Humans do that all the time.
But,lets look at this as investors! How concerned should we be?
Lessons from The Neighbour! Before we explore the suitability of GRPR targeting, lets look at the now well established PSMA targetting, and see if it has anything in common with GRPR!, and learn from it.
PSMA expression is raised to aberrant levels in Prostate Cancer, but also High in normal prostate cells and Salivary glands. It is Moderate in normal small bowel cells, kidney cells, etc. So, it's not just Prostate Cancer that expresses PSMA; normal tissue does too! And indeed, PSMA therapies like Pluvicto and 67Cu-Sar-bisPSMA do affect salivary glands and are known to cause a dry mouth as a side effect. The salivary glands do recover their function, while cancer cells die, hopefully for good, or at least, stay in a coma for a very long time. I am yet to hear of anyone dying of a dry mouth!
GRPR exression is at aberrant levels in Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma, Prostate Cancer cells, and Breast Cancer cells. It is in the High-normal range in Central Nervous cells. So, it will have off-site targeting, just as Pluvicto affects salivary glands. The questions will be: How much of this are we getting/how bad are the side effects. How much does it affect the paerson? Does it recover?
Consider The Alternatives! Remember - this is not a matter of - lets just use this to treat humans, because we can! Its a treatment option thats being added to existing therapies (SOC). What are the adverse effects of SOC? Lets name a few and discuss them;
a) PSMA targeting therapy (the neighbour): Not suitable in PSMA negative cancer so thats out!
b) External Beam Radiation: Useful and kills cancer cells and everything else in its path! Not only nerves and normal skin, but if radiating the nodes around the heart, you damage the heart itself! And cancer can go to many other places too: liver, brain, bones etc! Will you radiate the entire body?
c) Hormones and Chemotherapy: They reach the entire body, which is why they all have serious side effects.
In Conclusion: I hope you agree that 67Cu-SAR-BOMBESIN could still get a place omn the targetel RLT roster, juts as others in the PSMA targeting have or will.
Expand
(20min delay)