Results from a recent study provide a new hope in the fight against breast cancer. At the frontlines of this battle against mutating cells, research teams are investigating more effective and efficient treatments. Five new chemical compounds were found to be more active in destroying breast cancer cells than current leading therapeutics.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women, affecting those aged 20-59 years old worldwide. Although classes of compounds have been recognized and applied in chemotherapy, the search for more effective treatments is on-going.
Previous therapies have targeted the mitochondria of cancer cells as the disruption of this cell component releases proteins that activate a process called apoptosis. The favourable result of this process is the death of target cells and many anticancer drugs aim to induce this activation.
Apoptotic Pathways (Genentech)
Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are a group of compounds causing mitochondrial dysfunction that results in apoptosis.
Formula of the NSAID’s and triphenylarsine used (European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry)
Researchers of this study modified five of these activating NSAIDs to contain silver. The five modified compounds were tested in vitro to determine their ability to target genetic material and inhibit proliferation of the cancer cells. The compounds were compared to the leading chemical therapeutic, cisplatin.
The compounds were also analyzed to characterize other chemical and physical properties, detailed in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. All five compounds are more efficient than cisplatin in damaging cancer cell DNA. One compound was three times more able to inhibit the proliferation of the cancers cells than cisplatin.
Canadian Cancer Society and Statistics Canada estimated that 26,300 women and 230 men would be diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada during 2017. The contribution from the University of Ioannina has introduced five new compounds that could direct a new area of chemotherapy research; a field that affects a significant number of people in Canada and the world.
References:
- Banti, C.N.; Papatriantafyllopoulou, C.; Tasiopoulos, J.T.; Hadjikakpou, S.K.; Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 143 (1), 1687-1701
- Breast cancer statistics https://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-specific-cancers/breast-cancer-statistics (accessed Feb 8, 2018).
- Elmore, S.; Toxicologic Pathway, 2007, 35 (4), 495-516
- Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs https://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_antiinflammatory_drugs/article.htm (accessed Feb 08, 2018)
- Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer
Statistics. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2017. Toronto, ON: Canadian
Cancer Society; 2017. Available at: cancer.ca/Canadian-CancerStatistics-2017-EN.pdf
(accessed Feb 08, 2018)
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