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This is one of many abstracts about Onc201 presented at the Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology conference taking place this week. To see the entire list of Onc201 abstracts, go to: https://oncoceutics.com/oncoceutics-to-present-additional-data-at-asco-showing-clinical-benefit-from-onc201-for-cancer-patients/
This abstract reports on a fascinating finding. Onc201 is an experimental oral drug that blocks DRD2. Tumors with the H3K27m mutation, mostly diffuse midline glioma and DIPG, usually have a high expression of DRD2 so should benefit most from this drug. The research shows that the tumors that respond best to Onc201 have a low level of EGFR and conversely, tumors with a high EGFR do not respond as well. Their conclusion is that EGFR and DRD2 perform similiar functions - so if EGFR is high, blocking DRD2 doesn't help much. My conclusion is that we should try to combine Onc201 with a drug or vaccine that blocks EGFR - perhaps we will have a treatment that most high grade brain tumors respond to.
Disclosure: The Musella Foundation gave a venture philanthropy grant to Oncoceutics and will benefit if Onc201 is ever FDA approved.