Compound developed as a combat-cholesterol molecule can kill cancer cells -
University of Missouri researchers have shown that a compound originally developed as a cholesterol molecule -combat not only stops the progression of breast cancer, but also can kill cancer cells.
"Cholesterol is a molecule found in all animal cells and serves as a structural component of cell membranes," said Salman Hyder, professor Zalk Endowed in angiogenesis tumor and professor of biomedical sciences in the College of veterinary medicine and the cardiovascular research Centre at MU Dalton. "Because tumor cells are growing rapidly they need to synthesize more cholesterol. Scientists working for often cure breast cancer look for other targets that could slow or stop the progression of the disease, including removal of cancer cells. in our study, we targeted the production of cholesterol in cancer cells, leading to death of breast cancer cells. "
previous studies suggest that 70 percent of breast cancers in women are hormone dependent and can be treated with anti-hormonal drugs such as tamoxifen. Although tumor cells may initially respond to therapy, most eventually develop resistance that causes breast cancer cells to grow and spread. Cholesterol can also contribute to the development of anti-hormone resistance because cholesterol is converted to hormones in tumor cells. Therefore, these cholesterol pathways forming attractive therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.
The use of compounds originally developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of high cholesterol, which reduces cholesterol in a different way than statins used widely, Hyder and his team the molecule administered to human breast cancer cells. They found that the compound is effective in reducing the growth of human breast cancer cells and often caused cancer cell death. Most interestingly, they found that cholesterol lowering drug they tested destroyed an estrogen receptor, a protein that promotes tumor cells to grow.
With this information, Hyder and the team tested the results in mice with breast cancer. After compound injection, Hyder revealed that the molecule was effective in killing breast cancer cells by reducing the presence of estrogen receptors in the tumor cells, Hyder said.
"Anti-tumor compound present in the two human samples that were outside of the body, and in samples which have been administered by injection into mice," said Hyder. "In both cases, the proteins that cause tumors to grow were eliminated, which leads to more aggressive cell death."
Hyder believes other clinical trials can lead to a drug that has the dual goal of fight against cholesterol and. Cancer
researchers involved in the study included Yayun Liang, research professor associated with the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; Cynthia Besch-Williford, professor of pathobiology at MU veterinarian; Benford Mafuvadze, postdoctoral researcher in Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; Matthew Cook, pre-doctoral researcher in biomedical sciences; and Xiaoqin Zou, associate professor of physics and biochemistry and a researcher at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. Johannes Aebi Roche Pharmaceuticals also contributed to the research
The study ,. "Inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis of new anti-cancer agents as powerful: the suppression hormone-dependent breast cancer by oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitor RO 48-8071," was published in cancer research and treatment and was funded by a grant from the Ministry of Defence cancer Program and the national Institutes of breast health.
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