Tumors, Source: Medical News Today
Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. The mastermind behind this deadly disease is none other than a tumor [3] . During this time, the tumor was eradicated by chemotherapy in a “blunt”. However, as we know, tumors are living things, which certainly have an instinct to avoid danger. In addition, the current chemotherapy treatment system can also harm other cells in the body [2] . Then how to overcome it? On July 18, 2019, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) revealed the latest chemotherapy drug transfer method, which uses “ninja”.
Ninja? Actually ninja is not the right word to describe the working system of this drug. This drug works more precisely like a Trojan Horse virus on your computer. According to Nathan Gianneschi, the leader of research on this drug, revealed that this drug can deliver chemotherapy so that it can be consumed directly by the tumor, without being known by the tumor itself [1] .
Drug description found by the Research Team from Northwestern University, Source: Northwestern Now
How to? Reporting from Northwestern Now, Gianneschi and his team engineered long-chain fatty acids at two binding sites at each end. These fatty acids and drugs are then hidden in human serum albumin (HSA), which carries molecules, including fat, throughout the body. Furthermore, the body’s cellular receptors will recognize this drug as fat supplied by HSA and allow this drug to enter. Tumors that grow fast and are hungry will consume nutrients far more quickly than normal cells, so this drug has the opportunity to be consumed by tumors. When a tumor metabolizes this drug, the drug will be active and will kill the tumor [1] .
ODDA PTX, a drug discovered by a group of scientists from Northwestern University: a) Chemical structure of ODDA PTX, b) 3D depiction of ODDA PTX, c) ODDA PTX combined with fat, Source: Callmann, 2019.
It is not yet known exactly when this drug can be mass produced, but this discovery is an amazing discovery. Be prepared for the treatment of the next generation of cancer with maximum results and low risk of treatment.
Source:
[1] Amanda Norris. 2019. Trojan horse ‘anticancer drug disguises itself as fat: Promising the system delivers chemo drugs straight into tumors with fewer side effects. Accessed July 20, 2019 at: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/trojan-horse-anticancer-drug-delivery-disguises-itself-as-fat/
[2] Callmann, Cassandra E., Nathan C. Gianneschi, et al. 2019. Antitumor Activity of 1,18-Octadecanedioic Acid-Paclitaxel Complexed with Human Serum Albumin . Journal of the American Chemical Society.
[3] World Health Organization. 2018. Cancer . Accessed on July 28, 2019 at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
