The HSF1 pathway: a promising target for ovarian cancer?

After 15 years of research, a study from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) following a new ‘first in class’ experimental oral drug (NXP800) has shown promising results in mice for the treatment of highly chemotherapy-resistant ovarian tumors. NXP800, initially termed CCT361814, is designed to target the heat shock factor 1 protein (HSF1), which cancer cells are highly dependent upon. HSF1 is a transcription factor that controls the production of important proteins in the cell and is hijacked by cancer cells to support tumor development. -the  The drug  is now in a Phase I clinical trial following successful results in...