Many years have been spent trying to develop a drug that can prevent metastasis. Yet, up until now, cancer has remained a lethal and untreatable disease. However, doctors have recently made a breakthrough discovery that has the potential to turn cancer into a disease that can be treated. Join us as we learn more about this incredible discovery in the article below.
What Is Cancer Metastasis?
It has been estimated that metastasis is responsible for an alarming 90% of all cancer deaths. The term metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from their point of origin to another part of the body. During this process, cells break off the original tumor and form a new tumor after traveling through the blood or lymph system. These cells typically end up in other organs, such as the brain, lungs, and liver. It is an extremely complex process that can develop anywhere from months to decades after the primary tumor has initially been diagnosed. [1]
Current Treatments for Metastatic Cancer
The currently existing treatments for metastatic cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. After the primary tumor has been surgically removed, cancer patients are usually treated using radiation and chemotherapy to try to get rid of the remaining cancer cells. These cells are left behind due to the incomplete removal of the cancerous legions. Many patients who receive treatment develop a resistance to these therapies. [2] Therefore, many cancer patients end up experiencing tumor recurrence, which then results in cancer metastasis. Consequently, more than 90% of patients whose treatments failed end up dying from metastatic disease.
The Breakthrough Drug
Understanding the underlying mechanism of drug resistance is vital, as it helps researchers develop effective treatments to prevent metastasis. Researchers at the University of Salford believe they have begun to unravel the mysteries of the metastatic process, which could consequently turn cancer into a treatable disease. These researchers believe that the new therapeutic strategy to prevent metastasis is mitochondrial ATP depletion. This can be achieved by removing the cancer cell’s ability to produce new energy. Based on an existing antibiotic that was first approved in the late 1960s, the team of professors has designed a new cancer metastasis inhibitor.
What Is ATP?
ATP can be defined as the main energy source for all living cells. Cells make ATP through processes like the TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis. When your mitochondria don’t work properly, the ATP levels drop, which can lead to cell death through apoptosis (programmed cell death) or necrosis (uncontrolled cell death). Researchers have found that the strongest cancer cells, which are capable of spreading (metastasizing), need a lot of ATP to survive. [3] As a result, strategies that deplete ATP can effectively destroy these aggressive cancer cells.
Read More: Cancer-Linked Chemicals Found in Tap and Bottled Water
The Research on Metastasis
The team from the University of Salford focused on targeting the mitochondria of cancer stem cells. These cells are believed to be responsible for drug resistance, typically leading to cancer recurrence and spread throughout the body. These mitochondria evolved from ancient bacteria, and there are many notable similarities between human mitochondria and bacteria. As a result, certain bacteriostatic antibiotics can disrupt mitochondrial protein production. For example, doxycycline blocks the small mitochondrial ribosome, which also helps prevent the growth of cancer stem cells. This suggests that doxycycline could target and eliminate cancer stem cells.
How The New Drug Works
The researchers, therefore, modified the Doxycycline and managed to make it five times stronger. Luckily, this modification also renders the drug ineffective as an antibiotic. This removes any potential risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or infections from developing. Named Doxy-Myr, this new drug has additionally been shown to be non-toxic in pre-clinical studies. One of the researchers, Professor Micheal Lisanti, added, “While this new family of drugs must now undergo clinical trials, the work directly shows proof of concept that it is feasible to successfully design drugs that can prevent metastasis by targeting the process of cellular energy production.”
The Bottom Line On Cancer Metastasis
We still live in a time where receiving a cancer diagnosis is very scary. However, new medical breakthroughs continuously bring us closer to finding effective treatments for these diseases. This breakthrough is one such moment, and could potentially put an end to the challenges associated with cancer metastasis treatment. By targeting the mitochondria of cancer stem cells and depleting ATP, these researchers have found a way to inhibit the energy production that aggressive cancer cells rely on. Their modified drug, Doxy-Myr, is five times stronger than its original form, non-toxic, and no longer functions as an antibiotic, reducing the risk of resistance. While more clinical trials are still needed, this discovery offers hope to millions across the world that cancer could one day become a treatable disease.
Read More: Woman Was Diagnosed With Colon Cancer at 32. Here Were Her First Symptoms
Sources
- “Metastasis (Metastatic Cancer).” Cleveland Clinic
- “Cancer and Radiation Therapy: Current Advances and Future Directions.” NCBI. Rajamanickam Baskar, Kuo Ann Lee, Richard Yeo, and Kheng-Wei Yeoh. February 2012.
- “Physiology, Adenosine Triphosphate.” NCBI. Jacob Dunn and Michael H. Grider. February 13, 2023.