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Converting cancer therapies into cures: lessons from infectious diseases

Michael S Glickman1, Charles L Sawyers

  • 1Infectious Diseases Service and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. glickmam@mskcc.org

Cell
|March 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cancer drug resistance mirrors infectious disease challenges. Combining therapies and targeting persistent cells are key to overcoming treatment failure and preventing relapse in both fields.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer drug development has shifted towards targeted therapies, but temporary responses and drug resistance remain significant challenges.
  • Drug resistance is a major cause of treatment failure in both cancer and infectious diseases, necessitating new therapeutic strategies.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms in infectious diseases offers valuable insights for improving cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare and contrast drug resistance mechanisms in cancer and infectious diseases.
  • To explore how strategies used against viral and bacterial infections can inform cancer treatment.
  • To identify approaches for eliminating drug-tolerant persister cells and tumor-initiating cells to prevent relapse.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of resistance mechanisms in cancer and infectious diseases.
  • Review of therapeutic strategies for overcoming HIV and tuberculosis.
  • Discussion of synergistic combination therapy and targeting of persister/stem cells.

Main Results:

  • Cancer and infectious diseases share analogous challenges in developing drug resistance.
  • Combination therapy is crucial for maximizing initial treatment response in both fields.
  • Targeting drug-tolerant persister cells (infectious disease) and tumor-initiating/stem cells (cancer) is essential for long-term remission.

Conclusions:

  • Lessons learned from infectious disease research, particularly regarding combination therapy and targeting persistent cells, can guide more rational cancer therapy.
  • Developing drugs to eliminate drug-tolerant persister and tumor-initiating cells is critical for preventing late relapse and shortening treatment duration in both cancer and infectious diseases.
  • A unified approach to combating drug resistance across disciplines holds promise for improved patient outcomes.

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