The weak point of the tumor
Scientists have learned how to kill cancer without chemotherapy, depriving cancer cells of energy
Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+
Mitochondria are structures inside cells that produce chemical energy, and since cancer cells consume especially much energy, this weak spot can be used to attack a malignant tumor. European scientists have developed a drug that blocks mitochondrial metabolism and deprives cancer cells of access to energy.
The article Bonekamp et al. Small-molecule inhibitors of human mitochondrial DNA transcription is published in the journal Nature, the press release of New drug inhibits the growth of cancer cells can be read on the website of the Max Planck Society – VM.
Cancer cells differ from ordinary ones, in fact, in that they grow uncontrollably, absorbing a lot of energy in the process. This makes mitochondria an excellent target for medical drugs, but progress in this direction is moving slowly. Many of the proposed drugs are toxic and affect healthy cells at the same time, which also need energy. A team of scientists from Sweden, Denmark and Germany investigated a new, safer way of indirect exposure to mitochondria.
Usually these structures contain their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules are regulated by a series of proteins and, as scientists have discovered, when exposed to them, gene expression in mtDNA is disrupted. In particular, they isolated one enzyme, mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT).
After a thorough search, the team discovered a chemical compound that suppresses POLRMT, and tested it on mice with human-transplanted cancer cells. The animals were given the drug orally for four weeks. The results were promising: the POLRMT inhibitor significantly reduced the viability and growth of tumors without harming healthy cells.
"Our data show that we actually starved cancer cells without serious side poisoning," said Nina Bonekamp, co-author of the study. – This opens up the possibility of cancer treatment. Another advantage of our inhibitor is that we know exactly where it connects to POLRMT and what it does with the protein. This distinguishes our drug from others, including those that are already used in medicine."
Nevertheless, the danger of side effects cannot be excluded, the researchers emphasize. Although healthy cells initially withstand stress, gradually they also become ill. Whether they have enough strength to hold out until the end of therapy – additional studies will show.
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