Breast cancer is a worldwide health challenge, with a particularly significant impact in Qatar, where the incidence and mortality rates exceed the global averages. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, researchers from the College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine at QU Health, Qatar University, embarked on a pioneering journey to discover innovative therapies for invasive forms of breast cancer. QU Health’s commitment to scientific excellence and research has now culminated in a momentous achievement—a patent for a novel chalcone-based chemotherapeutic compound that holds immense promise in the fight against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
TNBC is a particularly aggressive and challenging form of the disease that does not respond to hormonal treatments, and currently, there are no specific treatments available to target it. However, QU Health researchers have pioneered a new path forward with their groundbreaking discovery.
The research team, consists of MSc pharmacy graduate Ms. Dana Elkhalifa and faculty members from QU Health College of Pharmacy (Dr. Ashraf Khalil, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dr. Feras Alali, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies) and the College of Medicine (Dr. Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa, Professor of Cell Biology), set out to explore the potential of chalcone-based compounds as therapies for invasive breast cancers. Researchers designed and prepared novel chalcone analogs, which mimic the natural compounds but with different activity. They used these natural products as a model to create 14 new analogs, one of them being DK 14. In tests, DK 14 turned out to be powerful. It stopped cancer cells from growing and moving, and made them die. It also kept them from grouping together. Compared to common cancer drugs, DK 14 was even better at fighting cancer. What is exciting is that DK 14 could turn cancer cells into normal cells, suggesting it could be a promising new cancer treatment.
Moreover, the scientists studied how the compound affected the growth of blood vessels using chicken embryos as a model. The results were astonishing—DK 14 stopped 60% of new blood vessels from forming. This is significant because it suggests that DK 14 could slow down the spread of cancer. They also tested DK 14 on mice with aggressive breast cancer, and it reduced the cancer cells' growth by 50%. These outcomes in live animals aligned with what the research team observed in the laboratory, indicating that DK 14 appears to be a potent remedy for challenging cases of breast cancer.
The research endeavor aligns seamlessly with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasizes the importance of research and innovation as drivers of societal progress and economic growth. A patent application has been filed to protect this innovative discovery, paving the way for its further development and future use.
The research was financially supported by Qatar University through collaborative and student grants (QUST-2-CPH-2017-16 and QUST-1-CPH-2018-18) and the Qatar National Research Fund (GSRA4-2-0418-17024).
Dr. Ashraf Khalil, shared insights into the next steps of this groundbreaking research, stating, “Our journey is far from over. We are dedicated to advancing our lead compound, DK 14. To enhance its effectiveness, we have developed a miniature version using a substance called liposomes. Liposomes are like small containers capable of carrying medicines, aiding them in working more efficiently. This innovation ensures better dissolution and targeted functionality within the body. Simultaneously, we are using our expertise to design a new series of novel compounds with improved activity against a range of cancers, including prostate, colorectal, and breast cancers. We believe our work will pave the way for pharmaceutical companies to develop a new generation of drugs capable of specifically targeting TNBC and other cancer subtypes.”
This significant milestone marks a significant chapter in QU Health’s legacy of excellence in research and its dedication to finding advanced solutions to pressing global health challenges. As the world looks towards the future of cancer treatment, QU Health proudly stands at the forefront of progress and discovery.
For any inquiries regarding this research, please contact:
Dr. Ashraf Khalil, PhD
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry,
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
College of Pharmacy, QU Health,
Qatar University
akhalil@qu.edu.qa