E-Mail
IMAGE: The experimental drug avasopasem manganese protects healthy tissue while enhancing radiation s capacity to kill cancerous tumor cells by converting superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. view more
Credit: Michael Story, Ph.D.
DALLAS - May 20, 2021 - An experimental drug that has shown promise in protecting healthy tissue from collateral damage caused by radiation therapy for cancer also appears to enhance radiation s capacity to kill tumors, a new study led by UT Southwestern scientists shows. The findings, published online in
Science Translational Medicine, could provide a much-needed boost to the radiation treatments used against a variety of tumor types.
The drug, avasopasem manganese (AVA), has already shown promise in clinical trials to prevent a side effect known as acute mucositis. This condition commonly occurs in head and neck cancer patients when radiation therapy damages mucous membranes. However, for this drug to become part of clinical care, it s