In the evolving landscape of cancer treatment, precision medicine has revolutionised our approach to therapy. Yet despite remarkable advances in targeted treatments, patients face critical challenges at multiple stages of their cancer journey. Many confront limited options when standard therapies fail or their cancer develops resistance. Equally concerning are the limited strategies available after curative treatment to prevent or delay potential recurrence. At Astron Health, we’re bridging these critical gaps by exploring an often-overlooked avenue: the strategic repurposing of existing medications and evidence-based supplements to target specific vulnerabilities in a patient’s unique cancer profile.
Beyond Traditional Cancer Treatments
Astron Health serves as an interpretation and personalized research platform that builds upon genomic testing results from established providers like CARIS Life Sciences, Tempus, and Foundation Medicine. What sets us apart is our comprehensive approach to finding personalized treatment options. While most precision oncology services limit their suggestions to FDA-approved cancer drugs, Astron Health casts a wider net, considering repurposed non-cancer medications, evidence-based supplements, and low-cost generic drugs with demonstrated potential against certain cancer vulnerabilities.
Our Research Ambitions: Transforming Evidence into Clinical Practice
At the heart of Astron Health is our ambitious research program designed to transform the promising but scattered field of drug repurposing into a systematic, evidence-driven approach to cancer care.
Comprehensive Literature Analysis
Our research begins with a massive undertaking: the systematic analysis of more than 100,000 published research articles to identify evidence-based interventions for over 1,600 identified driver mutations involved in cancer development and progression. This exhaustive review process involves:
- Cataloging molecular targets and pathways implicated in different cancer types
- Identifying existing medications that interact with these targets
- Evaluating the strength of evidence for repurposing specific drugs
- Mapping the complex relationships between genetic alterations and potential therapeutic responses
This comprehensive approach allows us to create a database of unprecedented scope, connecting specific molecular vulnerabilities to potential interventions that might otherwise be overlooked in conventional treatment planning.
Active Clinical Research Programs
Beyond data analysis, we’re actively conducting research studies to validate and expand upon our findings:
Non-interventional MRD+ Pancreatic Cancer Research Study: Our collaboration with the University of Birmingham focuses on monitoring patients with minimal residual disease positive (MRD+) pancreatic cancer – a population at exceptionally high risk for recurrence, in order to better understand disease progression.
Future Clinical Research Programs
Interventional Studies: We’re conducting trials examining how the addition of repurposed drugs to standard treatment regimens affects outcomes across various cancer types. These studies follow rigorous protocols to measure response rates, progression-free survival, and quality of life metrics.
Post-Treatment Prevention Strategies: A significant focus of our research is developing evidence-based protocols for patients who have completed curative treatments but remain at risk for recurrence. By identifying interventions that target specific vulnerabilities in a patient’s original cancer, we aim to create personalized prevention strategies.
Building the Evidence Base for “Hard Repurposing”
Our research specifically emphasizes what experts call “hard repurposing” – using medications developed for entirely non-cancer conditions to fight cancer. This approach expands treatment possibilities beyond traditional oncology drugs. For example:
- We’re investigating how certain anti-diabetic medications affect metabolic pathways critical to cancer cell survival
- Our studies examine how specific cardiovascular drugs might influence the tumor microenvironment
- We’re researching how selected anti-inflammatory medications may enhance response to immunotherapies
- We’re studying which antimicrobials and antiparasitics might be most effective at reducing cellular proliferation or stimulating cancer cell death.
Each investigation is guided by molecular rationales, connecting a patient’s specific cancer profile to mechanisms that might be influenced by these interventions.
From Individual Insights to Systematic Approach
What distinguishes Astron’s research program is our effort to transform what has historically been an anecdotal approach into a systematic, evidence-based field. Rather than isolated case reports of drug repurposing success, we’re building a comprehensive framework that:
- Quantifies the strength of evidence for each repurposing strategy
- Identifies which patient populations are most likely to benefit based on molecular profiles
- Provides clinical guidance on dosing, timing, and combination strategies
- Tracks outcomes systematically to continuously refine our highlighted personalized research findings
Partnering with the Medical Community
Our research initiatives involve close collaboration with oncologists, academic medical centers, and patient advocacy groups. We don’t replace conventional cancer care – we provide additional, evidence-based options that oncologists can consider in their treatment planning.
For oncologists, our research offers a scientific foundation for exploring options beyond standard guidelines. For patients, we provide hope through rigorously researched approaches that might otherwise be overlooked.
Astron is a research organization focused on advancing precision oncology through multiple lenses. We provide reports to patients under the guidance of their referring oncologist, where clinicians believe our insights may support patient care. If you’re a patient interested in our research or reports, please speak with your primary clinician about whether Astron may be appropriate for your recovery journey. If you’re a clinician interested in learning more or collaborating with us, please reach out to support@astron.health — we’d be happy to connect.
Astron Health Blog 
Leave a comment