Researchers have discovered a promising new approach to lung cancer treatment in a study published in Oncogene.
Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with survival rates staying stubbornly low despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
In a study led by Nadav Wallis, a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. Joel K. Yisraeli of the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, researchers have identified a small molecule called AVJ16 that shows remarkable potential in shutting down the growth of lung tumours.
AVJ16 selectively blocks the cancer-driving protein IGF2BP1, halting tumour growth in preclinical studies and killing cancer cells in patient-derived models—whilst leaving healthy cells unharmed.
The molecule is found in many aggressive tumours but is absent in healthy adult tissue.
IGF2BP1 acts like a master switch inside cancer cells, protecting and amplifying RNAs that fuel tumour growth, invasion and resistance to treatment.
By targeting IGF2BP1, AVJ16 disrupts these different processes, effectively silencing multiple cancer-promoting pathways all at once.
In laboratory tests, the compound reduced lung cancer cell growth, limited their ability to invade surrounding tissue and triggered tumour cell death — all without harming healthy lung tissue.
The team also went beyond the petri dish. In preclinical models implanted with human lung adenocarcinoma cells, AVJ16 injections almost completely prevented tumour growth and metastasis.
When tested on patient-derived tumour organoids (miniaturised 3D models grown from human lung tumours), the drug selectively killed cancer cells expressing IGF2BP1, leaving healthy lung cells unaffected.
"What excites us about AVJ16 is its precision," explained Prof. Yisraeli.
"Unlike traditional chemotherapy that harms both cancerous and healthy cells, this molecule zeroes in on tumours carrying IGF2BP1, making it a highly promising candidate for future targeted therapies."
Whilst these findings are still at the preclinical stage, they open the door to a new category of cancer treatments, particularly ones that target RNA-binding proteins long considered “undruggable”.
If further trials confirm its safety and effectiveness, AVJ16 could someday be developed into a personalised therapy for patients with IGF2BP1-expressing lung cancers and possibly other cancers as well.
For now, the discovery offers a much-needed sense of optimism in the fight against lung cancer.