Naples, May 11, 2026 – A significant breakthrough in ovarian cancer treatment has been announced by the Pascale Institute in Naples, in collaboration with the Oncological Reference Center (CRO) of Aviano. The research team has identified a mechanism that could make existing therapies more effective, addressing one of the primary challenges in treating this aggressive disease: drug resistance.
Overcoming Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to treat due to the tumor cells’ ability to adapt and develop resistance to chemotherapy over time. While initial chemotherapy treatments often show efficacy, their long-term success is frequently hampered by these defense mechanisms developed by the cancer.
The study, led by researchers Rita Lombardi, Laura Addi, and Biagio Pucci from Pascale’s Mercogliano laboratories, and coordinated by the scientific director of the Neapolitan IRCCS, Alfredo Budillon, in conjunction with Gustavo Baldassarre’s group at CRO Aviano, focused on understanding and overcoming this resistance.
The Role of mTOR and HSP90 Proteins
Utilizing advanced technologies available at the Pascale Institute, researchers pinpointed the activation of key proteins-mTOR and HSP90-involved in chemotherapy resistance. These proteins play a crucial role in helping tumor cells survive the effects of treatment.
The most impactful finding of the study is that by pharmacologically blocking these two proteins, it is possible to “reactivate” the tumor cells’ response to drugs, thereby restoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This discovery offers a promising new avenue for enhancing current treatment protocols.
Collaborative Research and Promising Results
The findings, published in the prestigious journal Cell Death & Disease, are the result of extensive collaboration between researchers from both centers. Key contributors from Pascale included Elena Di Gennaro, Francesca Bruzzese, Maria Serena Roca, Federica Iannelli, Luigi Alfano, and Francesca Capone. Maura Sonego and Alice Nespolo represented CRO Aviano.
The results have been consistently confirmed through both laboratory experiments on tumor cells and more complex preclinical models. In both scenarios, a significant reduction in tumor growth and an improved response to therapies were observed, underscoring the importance and potential of this discovery.
Broader Implications for Cancer Treatment
An particularly interesting aspect of this research is its demonstrated effectiveness in other resistant solid tumors, such as lung carcinoma. This suggests that the strategy developed in Naples could have applications extending beyond ovarian cancer, potentially benefiting a wider range of cancer patients.
“This study demonstrates that combining drugs targeting specific pathways can be an effective strategy to overcome treatment resistance. The immediate goal is to translate these results into clinical trials and develop increasingly targeted treatments for patients,” explained scientific director Alfredo Budillon.
While this research does not yet represent a definitive cure, it provides a clear direction for future treatments. Understanding how tumors develop resistance is crucial for developing more effective and, in the long term, increasingly personalized therapies.
Source: https://www.vesuviolive.it/ultime-notizie/540029-tumore-ovarico-scoperta-study-pascale-napoli/
