Killer for cancer cells found

By using a synthetic molecule, the scientists from the University of Illinois have found out a way to kill the cancer cells in the tracks. The molecule tricks the cancer cells and propels it to commit suicide.

The treatment is being termed as the most potent anti cancer measure. All the cells in the body are capable of self destruction, except cancer cells, which later develop into tumors. The cells in our body contain an enzyme known as Procaspase-3, which is converted into Caspase-3, which instructs the cells for self destruction.

However, in cancer cells, the pathway of information leading from Caspase-3, where the signals for self annihilation is sent, is broken, resulting in the growth of tumors.

Paul J. Hergenrother, a professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and other researchers studied ten thousands of artificial molecules to see if any of them can lead to the active transformation of Procaspase-3 into caspase-3. The research conducted on mice and human tumors eventually elucidated the discovery of PAC-1 (procaspase activating compound one) and found that the molecule was capable of killing cancer cells in 23 tumors.

Hergenrother said that this was the first discovery in the field of artificial molecules with the ability to directly spark executioner enzymes. He said that even though the pathway is broken, yet, the cell has its own machinery now to destroy themselves.

The research also revealed that the healthy cells (non-cancerous cells) are not affected by PAC-1 and the molecule doesn’t increase the self destruction nature of these cells. However, the cancer cells are highly sensitive to the compound.

Many cancer treatments use cytotoxins to kill the actively and rapidly dividing cancer cells, but with the new research showing positive results, the cancer treatments will see a new face.