HKBU scholar secures HK$1.4M ITSP grant for dual-targeting colorectal cancer treatment

Professor Xavier Wong Hoi-leong from the School of Chinese Medicine has secured HK$1.4 million from the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) Seed projects to advance a novel colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy.

The project, titled "Development of a Cholestenone-Based Drug for Dual Inhibition of EGFR and Mutant KRAS in Colorectal Cancer Treatment" addresses a critical oncological challenge. While current CRC treatments frequently fail due to anti-EGFR drug resistance and complex KRAS mutations, Prof Wong’s team identified a natural cholesterol metabolite, 4-cholesten-3-one (4-C-3), that is selectively depleted in patient tumor tissues. 

Remarkably, 4-C-3 suppresses CRC cell growth without harming healthy cells. It overcomes therapeutic resistance by targeting a distinct EGFR site and simultaneously acts as a non-covalent inhibitor of multiple oncogenic KRAS variants. Utilizing AI-powered in-silico screening, the team discovered a potent derivative called Leucosterol, which boasts superior binding and inhibitory properties. 

Collaborating with Dr Pallavi Asthana from the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU and Dr Mohamad Koohi-Moghadam from The University of Hong Kong, Professor Wong will utilise this funding to evaluate Leucosterol’s safety and efficacy across multiple CRC models. 

The Research Office extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Wong and his team on attaining this significant funding support. We look forward to the continued breakthroughs and achievements of their research.