Exciting research directed by Dr. Sharon McKenna has led to a new Lithium Enhanced Chemotherapy treatment

4 Feb 2022

Exciting cancer research that has unlocked why some cancers are drug-resistant has led to a novel chemotherapy treatment incorporating Lithium. The research, which was funded by Breakthrough and led by Dr. Sharon McKenna at UCC, has found that adding lithium to the chemotherapy regime blocks the cancer cells’ ability to repair the internal damage normally inflicted by chemotherapy. This makes the chemotherapy more effective and reduces the risk of the cancer returning again.