A university study identifies new therapeutic targets for a drug used to treat advanced solid tumors

A study by the University of Navarra has uncovered new evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of the drug fruquintinib to improve the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The research, conducted in preclinical models of breast and colorectal cancer, confirmed the drug’s antitumor effects, as well as a direct effect on immunosuppressive cells, which promote tumor growth and resistance to treatment.

The work part of the thesis of Lucía Suárez González (León, 27 years old), who holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry a Ph.D. from the School of Science at the University of Navarra. The study focuses on the VEGFR3 receptor and the effect of fruquintinib, currently the only selective inhibitor of this molecule C certain patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

“We knew that this drug and other VEGFR3 inhibitors could reduce lymphatic vessel training and limit the development of metastases, but we wanted to understand whether they also acted on other core topic mechanisms core topic in core topic progression,” explains Dr. Suárez. The study thus demonstrated that fruquintinib does not act solely as an anti-vascular drug, but rather “also modulates immunosuppressive populations that promote tumor growth and resistance,” the researcher notes.

 The thesis supervised by Ana Rouzaut, a professor at the School of Science a researcher at Clínica Universidad de Navarra Cancer Center (CCUN), and Mª Esperanza Rodríguez Ruiz, a radiation oncology specialist at the University of Navarra Clinical Cancer Center and also a researcher at the CCUN.
 

Combination with a chemotherapeutic agent for greater efficacy
The work also work so-called M-LECP cells as a new therapeutic target for the drug. These cells, derived from bone marrow, contribute to the training lymphatic vessels and may promote both resistance to certain treatments and the suppression of the immune response.

Another significant finding was that the combination of fruquintinib and paclitaxel—one of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs—achieved a greater reduction in Issue and a more favorable modulation of the immune system than chemotherapy administered alone.

“This mechanism of action of fruquintinib had not been described until now and could contribute to development new therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced tumors,” concludes Suárez.

reference letter
· Suárez, L., Martínez-Azcona, M., Serrano-Mendioroz, I., Fernández-Rubio, L., Rodríguez-Ruiz, M. E., & Rouzaut, A. (2025). Fruquintinib overcomes tumor immune tolerance by curbing pro-tumoral immature myeloid cell populations. Frontiers in Immunology, 16, 1699980. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1699980