An existing antibiotic could help destroy the deadliest type of skin cancer
| Oct 6, 2018, 09:10 IST
Researchers are constantly trying to invent newer ways to deal and tackle with cancer. The deadly disease has proved to be a rather stubborn one when it comes to cure and there are several studies being conducted almost every day in order to find a cure for the same. Today, we have come across a study that could be potentially path-breaking.
The research, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology has found a drug called nifuroxazide, an antibiotic drug that could be used to complement existing melanoma therapies. The antibiotic could probably be the cure to the deadliest type of cancer, melanoma. As part of the study, researchers have tested the drug using a mice model and on human tumours.
Melanoma tumours produce a lot of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and studies conducted previously have tried to block the growth of ALDH1, however, this study is concentrating on selectively killing cells producing high ALDH1. The researchers hope that the strategy may complement existing melanoma treatments, called BRAF and MEK inhibitors. "We've shown this antibiotic that's used mostly to target intestinal bacteria can also target and kill cancer cells high in the enzyme ALDH1," said Liz Patton from the University of Edinburgh. "It's great that this antibiotic is approved for use in humans, but it wasn't designed as a cancer drug, so we still need to find out if it's safe and effective for cancer in humans - for example, can it get to the cancer in the body and are the doses needed safe," added Patton. "We may need to take the concept for how this antibiotic works and re-design it to make it better at killing cancer," Patton concluded.
The research, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology has found a drug called nifuroxazide, an antibiotic drug that could be used to complement existing melanoma therapies. The antibiotic could probably be the cure to the deadliest type of cancer, melanoma. As part of the study, researchers have tested the drug using a mice model and on human tumours.
Melanoma tumours produce a lot of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and studies conducted previously have tried to block the growth of ALDH1, however, this study is concentrating on selectively killing cells producing high ALDH1. The researchers hope that the strategy may complement existing melanoma treatments, called BRAF and MEK inhibitors. "We've shown this antibiotic that's used mostly to target intestinal bacteria can also target and kill cancer cells high in the enzyme ALDH1," said Liz Patton from the University of Edinburgh. "It's great that this antibiotic is approved for use in humans, but it wasn't designed as a cancer drug, so we still need to find out if it's safe and effective for cancer in humans - for example, can it get to the cancer in the body and are the doses needed safe," added Patton. "We may need to take the concept for how this antibiotic works and re-design it to make it better at killing cancer," Patton concluded.