A medication, already approved for cancer treatment, might now offer a new lifeline for children battling a severe form of cancer, according to recent Australian research.

Neuroblastoma, a cancer developing from nerve cells located in glands above the kidneys or along the spine, chest, and abdomen, commonly affects children. Tragically, it proves fatal in 90% of cases when the cancer relapses.

This grim outlook is particularly prevalent in high-risk cases of neuroblastoma. In these situations, 15% of children do not respond to initial treatments, and of those who do, half experience a return of the cancer.

The challenge arises because chemotherapy drugs typically target a cellular mechanism known as the JNK pathway to destroy cancer cells.

However, when tumors recur, the JNK pathway’s function may falter, rendering treatments ineffective and allowing the cancer to spread with potentially fatal outcomes.

“The statistics for families when patients reach this stage are truly heartbreaking,” stated Associate Professor David Croucher.

However, researchers at the Garvan Institute have found a drug called romidepsin can help reduce tumour growth and the chances of the deadly cancer returning, helping more children survive.

The drug is already approved to treat other cancers like lymphomas, and the result of the study published in Science Advances is promising, according to researchers.

“This represents a big step forward,” Croucher said.

“By finding drugs that don’t depend on the JNK pathway, we can still trigger cancer cell death even when this usual route is blocked.”

The trials were conducted on animal models, and the next step is to use clinical trials.

Crocuher insists the benefits will be of the families who could be helped fight the devastating disease.

“Behind every statistic is someone’s loved one,” Croucher said. “Understanding these molecular mechanisms gives us hope we can develop more effective treatments for patients and their families who currently face limited options – and that’s what drives us every day.”