Researchers have discovered a promising new approach to lung cancer treatment. A small molecule called AVJ16 selectively blocks the cancer-driving protein IGF2BP1, halting tumor growth in preclinical studies and killing cancer cells in patient-derived models—while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The findings could pave the way for a new generation of targeted therapies.

Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with survival rates stubbornly low despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. But a new discovery may change the way doctors approach treatment.
In a study led by Nadav Wallis, a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. Joel K. Yisraeli of the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, researchers identified a small molecule called AVJ16 that shows remarkable potential in shutting down the growth of lung tumors. Published in Oncogene, the study highlights how AVJ16 specifically blocks a cancer-driving protein known as IGF2BP1, a molecule found in many aggressive tumors but absent in healthy adult tissue.

IGF2BP1 acts like a master switch inside cancer cells, protecting and amplifying RNAs that fuel tumor growth, invasion, and resistance to treatment. By targeting IGF2BP1, AVJ16 disrupts these different processes, effectively silencing multiple cancer-promoting pathways at once. In laboratory tests, the compound reduced lung cancer cell growth, limited their ability to invade surrounding tissue, and triggered tumor cell death—all without harming healthy lung tissue.
The team went beyond the petri dish. In preclinical models implanted with human lung adenocarcinoma cells, AVJ16 injections almost completely prevented tumor growth and metastasis. Even more striking, when tested on patient-derived tumor organoids—miniaturized 3D models grown from human lung tumors—the drug selectively killed cancer cells expressing IGF2BP1, leaving healthy lung cells unaffected.

“What excites us about AVJ16 is its precision,” explains Prof. Yisraeli. “Unlike traditional chemotherapy that harms both cancerous and healthy cells, this molecule zeroes in on tumors carrying IGF2BP1, making it a highly promising candidate for future targeted therapies.”

While these findings are still at the preclinical stage, they open the door to a new category of cancer treatments, ones that target RNA-binding proteins long considered “undruggable.” If further trials confirm its safety and effectiveness, AVJ16 could someday be developed into a personalized therapy for patients with IGF2BP1-expressing lung cancers, and possibly other cancers as well.

For now, the discovery offers a much-needed sense of optimism in the fight against lung cancer—a disease that takes millions of lives each year. As Prof. Yisraeli and his team continue their research, patients and doctors alike may soon have a new weapon in their arsenal.