2018-08-30

HKBU scholars in world-first breakthrough for difficult-to-treat breast cancer
Chemists at HKBU have discovered the use of a metal compound that
inhibits the enzyme closely associated with triple-negative breast
cancer (TNBC), one of the most difficult forms of breast cancer to
treat. The metal compound is found to inhibit the TNBC tumours with less
toxicity in mice, thus their work has further unmasked the role of the
enzyme, lysine-specific demythylase 5A (KDM5A), in TNBC. The reported
compound shows tremendous potential for the development of drugs for
TNBC therapy. The results of this study were published in the leading
chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
The team was led by Dr Edmond Ma Dik-lung, Associate Professor of the
Department of Chemistry. The team developed the compound using a metal
named rhodium as a direct, potent and selective inhibitor of KDM5A, in
other words the compound can effectively target KDM5A which is a key
limitation of existing KDM5A inhibitors. To find out more, please visit: https://cpro.hkbu.edu.hk/en/press_release/detail/HKBU-scholars-in-world-first-breakthrough-for-difficult-to-treat-breast-cancer/