Compared with healthy cells, glucose metabolism is greatly modified in cancer cells because of their highly proliferative character. This differential tumor / healthy tissue property is an opportunity to be able to propose a treatment whose therapeutic gain can be major (targeted treatment). Preclinical studies are multiple and showed that the targeting of overexpressed proteins (carbonic anhydrases) and involved in glycolytic metabolism can lead to a significant anti-tumor effect. This has never been tested in humans.
Acetazolamide is a molecule commonly used for non carcinologic purposes but has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies; there is also synergy radiotherapy / targeting of carbonic anhydrases. Therefore, the investigators propose to study the combination of acetazolamide / radiotherapy / chemotherapy with platinum and etoposide in localized Small Cell Lung cancer, or associated with radioimmunotherapy (extensive SCLC).
This would be the first study:
- targeting glucose metabolism,
- testing the effectiveness of acetazolamide in oncology,
- testing the synergy radiotherapy / targeting glycolytic metabolism,
- trying to manipulate the anti-tumor immune system indirectly, by decreasing extracellular acidosis.