Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. More than 100,000 people are expected to be diagnosed in the USA in 2021. Current treatment with radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors do not show significant improvement in patients. Therapy combined with QH-II-66, radiation, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor shows improved results in controlling the metastasis by lowering the mass of the tumor. By gene expression analysis it was seen that these cancer cells show high expression of GABA<sub>A  </sub>receptors. Electrophysiology shows these receptors are functional. This sensitization to melanoma cells is benzodiazepine exclusive and does not impair normal cells. A syngeneic mouse model of melanoma shows QH-II-66 increases the depolarization in mitochondria which initiates programmed cell death of cancer cells. Combined therapy with QH II 66 and radiation show even better results. Lymphocyte and CD8+T cell counts were also increased after the treatment. Large-scale synthesis was developed for QH II 66. Thus, this potent, non-toxic benzodiazepine may serve as an efficient anti-cancer drug for melanoma.

QH-II-66, a potential drug candidate for the treatment of melanoma

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.