The master’s thesis on improving the effectiveness of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment with ibrutinib was awarded in the XXII edition of the “Wrocławska Magnolia” competition. Its author is Łukasz Martowski, M.Pharm., a graduate of the Wroclaw Medical University.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ( CLL) is the most common blood cancer among Europeans. It affects men twice as often as women and usually occurs in patients over the age of 70.
Various drugs have been used in the treatment of CLL, but visible progress in therapy was only brought about by the discovery of TKI drugs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors), which inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. One of them is a drug containing ibrutinib (IBR), introduced in 2013.
– However, treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia with ibrutinib in crystalline form is associated with high costs, the need for patients to take high doses and side effects – explains Łukasz Martowski. – Therefore, one of the most important tasks currently facing scientists is to improve the selectivity of TKI drugs, reduce their toxicity and obtain better penetrating molecules.
The experimental research work of Łukasz Martowski entitled “Physicochemical studies of amorphous solid dispersions of ibrutinib with a hydrophilic polymer”, supervised by Dr. Igor Mucha from the Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, WMU, describes the possibilities of physical modification of ibrutinib using alternative amorphization methods.
– Amorphization can improve the bioavailability of the drug by increasing its solubility, which will accelerate and improve its action and increase the effectiveness of treatment – adds the author of the paper.
Implementing the solution could improve the prognosis for CLL patients, reduce the costs of drug production, and also raise the profile of Wrocław as a research center and increase the involvement of local industry in the development of modern technologies.
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“Wrocławska Magnolia” is a competition organized by the Wrocław Academic Center (WAC). It is aimed at university graduates who take up topics related to improving the quality of life of city residents (e.g. protection of health and life or the natural environment) in their diploma theses, and the solutions they propose can be implemented.
The awards ceremony was attended by dr hab. Piotr Świątek, prof. WMU, vice-dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy for the pharmacy major, university coordinator of the “Wrocławska Magnolia” competition, who received a letter of congratulations and thanks from the mayor of Wrocław Jacek Sutryk, and supervisor dr Igor Mucha, who received the distinction.
Photo: Marek Księżarek
