A series of preclinical studies show that a new compound, SHP1705, targets circadian clock proteins hijacked by glioblastoma stem cells, impairing the cancer cells’ ability to survive and grow. SHP1705 is also the first clock-targeting compound to complete a phase 1 clinical trial, where it was found to be safe and well-tolerated in humans. Glioblastoma is the most common cancerous brain tumor in adults—and one of the most difficult to treat. Most patients receive a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but tumors typically return and resist further treatment. Circadian clock proteins, which regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle and other daily rhythms at the cellular level, offer a potential solution. Glioblastoma cells hijack these proteins in order to replicate, so switching them off could slow or halt tumor growth. Through a series of biochemical, cellular and animal studies, the researchers tested SHP1705’s ability to neutralize glioblastoma stem cells, finding it to be highly effective. A phase 1 clinical trial led by Synchronicity Pharma, a biotechnology startup that Kay co-founded, showed that SHP1705 was well-tolerated in humans.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death globally.

Although some of the molecular changes associated with colorectal cancer are known, how they contribute to cancer development is not yet well defined.

In a study published in Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers used mouse models and studies of colorectal cancer tissues to show that loss of SOX9 gene promotes tumor progression and the pathway it regulates can be a potential target for future treatments.