Yogyakarta, December 16, 2025 – A research team from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), led by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. apt. Adam Hermawan, M.Sc., is developing strategic research to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer. This research focuses on exploring the potential of the compound Cucurbitacin E in restoring the sensitivity of cancer cells to Trastuzumab therapy, which is known to experience a decrease in effectiveness due to excessive activation of signaling pathways during long-term use.
In its implementation, the research team from the Faculty of Pharmacy, UGM, which also consists of Dyaningtyas Dewi Pamungkas Putri, Ph.D., Dita Amalia Prihati, S.T., and Nur Ismiyati, S.Farm., M.Sc., collaborated internationally with Prof. Dr. Jonathan Garcia-Roman from Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico. The research, entitled “Investigating the Mechanism of Cucurbitacin-E in Overcoming Breast Cancer Cell Resistance to Trastuzumab: A Metabolomics Study,” was supported by a Grant for Research Utilizing APS Laboratory Facilities and utilized technology to comprehensively identify changes in metabolite profiles through a metabolomics and bioinformatics approach.
This global collaborative research is a tangible contribution by the Faculty of Pharmacy, UGM, in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through the development of innovative cancer therapies, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through the use of advanced laboratory technology, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the strengthening of international cooperation. This collaboration emphasizes the importance of global synergy in accelerating scientific discoveries that have an impact on improving the quality of public health.
