Research identifies a new drug candidate to starve and suffocate breast cancer stem cell growth
Monday 7 October 2019
Scientists at the university have identified a new drug candidate (*) that is able starve and suffocate cancer stem cells, paving the way for new therapies to treat breast cancer patients.
It is well-recognized, by the medical community, that the growth of cancer stem cells (CSC’s) is one of the major causes of treatment failure, tumour recurrence and cancer spread, in many different cancer types.
CSC’s that are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often resulting in tumour recurrence. In research conducted at the Translational Medicine Laboratory at the University of Salford, a candidate drug was identified, Dodecyl-TPP, that was found to be effective when targeting mitochondria within CSCs. Using this approach when treating cancer patients has the scope to reduce the risk of recurrence and spread of cancer.
Professor Michael P. Lisanti, the Chair of Translational Medicine at The University of Salford said: “Our pre-clinical research has identified a new drug candidate for targeting mitochondria in CSC. It was found that Dodecyl-TPP treatment can potently starve CSCs to death, this being effective in the nano-molar range, blocking their use of oxygen to generate energy in the form of ATP. The findings make a valid case for future clinal trials in this area."
The research, led by Professors Michael P. Lisanti and Federica Sotgia, was published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, a peer reviewed research platform that covers cancer research. This metabolic approach using drug combinations, can potentially improve patient survival by preventing tumour recurrence and metastasis, via the high-efficiency targeting of CSCs. Around 90% of all cancer patients die as a result of the cancer spreading and tumour recurrence, this being the basis of the research to identify new mitochondria inhibitors.
(*) The drug is not currently used when treating cancer patients
(**) Taken from Breast Cancer Care -
https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/about-us/media/facts-statistics
Journal details
Dodecyl-TPP Targets Mitochondria and Potently Eradicates Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs): Synergy With FDA-Approved Drugs and Natural Compounds (Vitamin C and Berberine)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.00615/full
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Tehreem Ashraf
0161 295 5317
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