Dena Newlun, a patient at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, talks about the importance of clinical trials and the promise of the new drug OK-1 during a news conference Wednesday. Behind her is Dr. Kathleen Moore, the physician directing the clinical trial for OK-1. Therapy dog Tripod Petey accompanied Newlun. (Courtesy photo/OU Health)
OKLAHOMA CITY – A new drug developed by Oklahoma scientists to fight cancer without harmful side effects is undergoing clinical trials, officials at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center revealed Wednesday.
“Today we’re excited to announce the unveiling of a new cancer drug aptly called OK-1,” Dr. Robert Mannel, center director, said during a news conference.
The drug initially is being given to women with advanced-stage ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers, but shows promise for fighting other cancers and possibly even preventing cancer, according to researchers.
“It’s very rare for a drug to be developed entirely within an academic institution without the aid of pharmaceutical support or venture capital,” Mannel said. “We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment, and this is a landmark day for Oklahoma.”
Doris Benbrook, Ph.D., a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, developed the drug over 25 years. She convinced multiple institutes to support the drug, primarily the National Cancer Institute, and also received help from the Presbyterian Health Foundation, Mannel said.
One of the major issues facing cancer patients is the side effects caused by treatments, Benbrook said. Her research team set a goal to develop drugs that can kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells or causing side effects.
Cancer cells depend on chaperon proteins to work as bodyguards to keep them alive, Benbrook said. OK-1 attacks the chaperon proteins and blocks their bodyguard function, which allows the cancer cells to die. Healthy cells are not dependent on these chaperon proteins, she said.
Another goal is to prevent cancer with OK-1. “Our experimental models have shown that in addition to inhibiting cancer growth, OK-1 can prevent the development of cancer,” Benbrook said.
The drug received Food and Drug Administration approval to be tested in humans in a phase I clinical trial at Stephenson Cancer Center. The physician directing the clinical trial is Dr. Kathleen Moore, associate director of clinical research.
Cancer-fighting drugs help people live longer lives but not without “the collateral damage, which is the side effects of these drugs,” Moore said.
“Years of therapy takes a toll,” she said. “There is cumulative toxicity from these drugs that’s really important and impacts the subsequent lines of therapy that we can offer patients.”
In preclinical models OK-1 has been shown to shrink tumors across tumor types with very little toxicity, Moore said. “We’re expecting it to be very tolerable.”
It appears to be most effective when combined with other existing drugs and could help those drugs work longer and better.
“This opportunity with OK-1 is sort of the Holy Grail for us. It’s the beginning of a really exciting research enterprise,” Moore said.
Dena Newlun – who is in the middle of another clinical trial for a stage-four ovarian cancer drug – said if OK-1 performs as expected future cancer patients “won’t have to go through what I went through.”
“Clinical trials are important, and I think we need to recognize it’s a sacrifice, yes, because you’re taking a drug and you don’t know what it’s going to do to you. You have no idea,” said Newlun, who has experienced many side effects including aphasia and adrenal insufficiency syndrome.
“Desperation will make you do whatever,” she said. “I’m doing really, really well and I feel really blessed. Every day is a bonus day for me.”
