Navigation Links
Tree Bark Substance may Hold New Lung-cancer Treatment

A recent study has found that a substance derived from the bark of the South American lapacho tree kills certain kinds of cancer cells.

The study, conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has also suggested that this substance could lead to a novel treatment for the most common type of lung cancer.

The compound, called beta-lapachone, has shown promising anti-cancer properties and is presently being used in a clinical trial to inspect its efficiency against pancreatic cancer in humans. Until now, however, researchers didnt know the mechanism of how the compound killed cancer cells.

Dr. David Boothman, a professor in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior author of a study appearing online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has been researching the compound and how it causes cell death in cancerous cells for 15 years.

In the new study, Dr. Boothman and his colleagues in the Simmons Cancer Center found that beta-lapachone networks with an enzyme called NQO1, which is present at high levels in non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. In tumors, the compound is metabolized by NQO1 and produces cell death without damaging noncancerous tissues that do not express this enzyme.

Basically, we have worked out the mechanism of action of beta-lapachone and devised a way of using that drug for individualized therapy, said Dr. Boothman, who is also a professor of pharmacology and radiation oncology.

In healthy cells, NQO1 is either not present or is expressed at low levels. In contrast, certain cancer cells, like non-small cell lung cancer, over express the enzyme. Dr. Boothman and his colleagues have found out that when beta-lapachone interacts with NQO1, the cell kills itself.

Beta-lapachone also upsets the cancer cells ability to refurbish its DNA, eventually leading to the cells termination.

When yo
'"/>




Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Substance abuse linked to adult antisocial syndrome
2. UV- Light Tanning As A Type Of Substance-Related Disorder
3. Homeless People More Prone To Substance Abuse
4. Substance Abuse Prevention Messages Better Received Among Teenagers in the Form of Media Campaigns and Curriculum
5. Using Herbal Products Heightens Substance Abuse Risk in Teens
6. Healthcare Worker Arrested For Administering Noxious Substances
7. Better Screening Now Possible For ADHD In Adult Substance Users
8. More Medicines Found To Contain Toxic Substance
9. Substance P May Pre-empt VIP in Regulating Temperature
10. Fact Sheet on Polonium-210 - The Substance That Killed Former Russian Spy
11. BBIC – A SOY-based Substance Treats Multiple Sclerosi
Post Your Comments:
Breaking Medicine Technology:Novartis Tasigna(R) (nilotinib) Trial Shows Superior Results to Glivec(R) (imatinib) in Newly Diagnosed, Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 2Novartis Tasigna(R) (nilotinib) Trial Shows Superior Results to Glivec(R) (imatinib) in Newly Diagnosed, Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 3Novartis Tasigna(R) (nilotinib) Trial Shows Superior Results to Glivec(R) (imatinib) in Newly Diagnosed, Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 4Novartis Tasigna(R) (nilotinib) Trial Shows Superior Results to Glivec(R) (imatinib) in Newly Diagnosed, Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 5Novartis Tasigna(R) (nilotinib) Trial Shows Superior Results to Glivec(R) (imatinib) in Newly Diagnosed, Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 6Bayer Consumer Care Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Combination Package of Alka-Seltzer Plus(R) Day & Night Cold Formula Liquid Gels 2ARKRAY, Inc. Announces Partnership With scil animal care company for the SPOTCHEM(TM) EZ Analyzer 2AMA Grants New Category III CPT Code to Premier Hearts Multifunction CardioGram 28TM 29 28MCG 29 51426 1AMA Grants New Category III CPT Code to Premier Hearts Multifunction CardioGram 28TM 29 28MCG 29 51426 2Fruitfly Model of a Neuropathic Disease Demonstrates Novel Role for Proteins in the Family of aTyr Pharmas Product Class 4717 1Fruitfly Model of a Neuropathic Disease Demonstrates Novel Role for Proteins in the Family of aTyr Pharmas Product Class 4717 2Fruitfly Model of a Neuropathic Disease Demonstrates Novel Role for Proteins in the Family of aTyr Pharmas Product Class 4717 3PR Whiz Belinda Foster Launches Michael Jacksons Nurse Cherilyn Lee on World Media Campaign 51425 1PR Whiz Belinda Foster Launches Michael Jacksons Nurse Cherilyn Lee on World Media Campaign 51425 2
Other Medicine Technology:Updated Study Results Reinforce Survival Benefit of Taxotere,(Docetaxel) for Men with Advanced, Hormone-Resistant Prostate,Cancer 2Updated Study Results Reinforce Survival Benefit of Taxotere,(Docetaxel) for Men with Advanced, Hormone-Resistant Prostate,Cancer 3Updated Study Results Reinforce Survival Benefit of Taxotere,(Docetaxel) for Men with Advanced, Hormone-Resistant Prostate,Cancer 4MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 3MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 4MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 5MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 6MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 7MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 8MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 9MGI Pharma, Inc. Summarizes Data Presented at the 2007 American,Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 10