University of Pretoria researchers revolutionise cancer care in global study

What if a simple compound could make chemotherapy hit harder against cancer but go easier on the patient? In a remarkable global collaboration, scientists have discovered Carba 1: a compound that could boost the power of one of the most widely used cancer drugs while reducing its painful side-effects. The findings were published in the journal Science.

Cancer is an indiscriminate disease: it affects millions of people around the world, touching lives across every age, gender and background. As doctors and scientists continue the relentless search for better treatments, global collaborations are proving key to finding more effective and compassionate ways to fight this disease. One such partnership is showing remarkable promise.

Professor Joji Mercier of the Department of Physiology at the University of Pretoria (UP) has worked with Prof Laurence Lafanechère, a leading cancer researcher from the Institute for Advanced Biosciences in Grenoble, France, for more than a decade. They are combining their expertise to tackle one of the biggest challenges in cancer care: how to make chemotherapy more effective and less harmful to patients.

Prof Lafanechère, an extraordinary professor at UP, has built her research around cancer drug discovery, and her latest discovery is proving to be very exciting. 

“One of the cornerstones of cancer treatment is a drug called paclitaxel,” Prof Mercier says. “It is one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs as it’s affordable, readily available and effective for many types of cancer. But it’s not perfect, as it doesn’t work for every patient.”

Some cancer cells can be resistant to this drug or become resistant, leaving little hope for patients who can’t afford more expensive treatment. Even worse, paclitaxel often causes severe nerve damage in the hands and feet – called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy – which can be extremely painful and long-lasting, sometimes even permanent. 

“For many patients, this side-effect limits how much of the drug they can receive, which affects their overall treatment success,” she says.

In a groundbreaking advancement, Prof Lafanechère’s team has discovered a new compound, called Carba 1 – a carbazole derivative – that could transform how paclitaxel is used.

“It sensitises cancer cells to paclitaxel without being toxic on its own, and also appears to protect against chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy,” Prof Mercier explains. 

The researchers believe that Carba 1 achieves this by helping nerve cells manage their energy more efficiently, a promising insight that could unlock further breakthroughs in managing drug side-effects.

The team has submitted their findings to a leading high-impact-factor scientific journal and, if the results hold up in larger studies and clinical trials, Carba 1 could become part of standard cancer care. Prof Lafanechère has co-founded a company called SAXOL together with Philippe Bordeau and Victor Juarez, who have extensive experience in drug development, to conduct regulatory preclinical development with the aim of bringing this drug to patients. 

“This shows how our research is translated into practical, more effective, safer treatment options for patients without the devastating side-effects that currently limit their choices,” she says. 

This work is not just happening in high-tech European laboratories. Thanks to a research grant from South Africa’s National Research Foundation, students and young scientists at UP are directly involved in this cutting-edge research. Under Prof Lafanechère and Prof Mercier’s mentorship, they’re learning world-class laboratory techniques and contributing to real-world progress in cancer treatment.

This partnership is a shining example of how international cooperation can speed up innovation and bring hope to patients worldwide – especially those in low-resource settings who often lack access to the latest therapies.

Why this research matters

For anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, the road to recovery often comes with uncomfortable side-effects. Thanks to this research team’s collaboration, science is steadily easing the way. Carba 1 isn’t just a scientific discovery; it’s a symbol of hope, showing how global teamwork and smart science can deliver better futures for patients around the world.

This story first appeared in RE.SEARCH 13: One Health.