Sciense Daily reports that a group of scientists from the University of Illinois is starting clinical trials of a new type of anticancer drug that causes cancer cells to self-destruct. Moreover, studies on animals have already been crowned with success, and now it is time to test the effectiveness of the drug in treating people.
The new series of experiments will involve patients suffering from polymorphic glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, the two most dangerous forms of cancer, localized mainly in the brain, its membrane and blood vessels. The experimental drug was named PAC-1, the peculiarity of which is that it can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier (a structure like a filter that selectively passes various substances to the brain). The action of RAS-1, which will be tested together with temozolid (the drug of choice in chemotherapy for brain cancer). The tests are directed at the enzyme procaspase-3. It is present in cancer cells and is inactive, however, activation of this enzyme leads to cell death. It just starts to break down from the inside. Cancer cells have learned to suppress the activity of this enzyme, but PAC-1 “turns on” the gene and makes the tumor “kill itself”. Moreover, the drug, which is important, does not affect healthy cells.
As mentioned earlier, the substance has been successfully tested in human cell culture, as well as in domestic dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma, lymphoma and glioma. During trials, it turned out that the combination of PAC-1 with chemotherapy drugs makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of tumors and even get rid of them. In addition, all previous studies have revealed virtually no complications (including those of the central nervous system), with the exception of minor gastrointestinal disorders.
Vladimir Kuznetsov