Deadly disease learned to restrain.
It is no secret that sometimes the cancer is not treatable. But the staff of the Institute of chemical biology and fundamental medicine, Siberian branch of RAS and the Novosibirsk Institute of organic chemistry. N. N. Vorozhtsova SB RAS found out why drugs like topotecan and irinotecan are unable to Express themselves fully. The reason is the enzyme tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1. He removes created medicines damage the DNA of cancerous cells.
“In the process of chemotherapy or radiotherapy affects the structure of DNA in cancer cells. However, all these injuries are eliminated by DNA repair systems, their activity and the need to inhibit in the treatment. The development of such tools is one of the main directions in modern medical chemistry,” says head of the laboratory of Bioorganic chemistry of enzymes of icbfm SB RAS corresponding member of RAS, Professor Olga Lavrik.
Well as experts looking for new drugs against cancer are among the natural compounds. In the center of attention of scientists of the Institute of biology and Biomedicine, Nizhny Novgorod state University of Lobachevsky (NNSU IBM) were orchids. In the tubers of orchids, the scientists found lupeol and squalene – compounds with antitumor activity.
So, lupeol inhibits growth and prevents the metastasis of cancer of the head and neck. Its antitumor activity is even higher than that of currently available drugs for the chemotherapy. Squalene reacts with water, releasing oxygen and saturating them cells. It can act as antimicrobial, anticancer and antifungal agents.
