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Known drug from alcoholism has antitumor properties
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The fact that the known drug from alcoholism Disulfiram has an anti-cancer effect, scientists have known for a long time. But only now they were able to clearly describe the chemotherapeutic mechanism of the action of this medication.
The newest research allowed to determine all the stages of the toxic effect of disulfiram on tumor cells.
The work was carried out with the participation of an international team of specialists led by Jiri Bartek, representing the Danish Research Center for Tumors (Copenhagen).
Disulfiram is an active ingredient in such common drugs as Teturam, Antabus, Esperal. It has been used for many decades in the treatment of chronic alcoholism. The drug starts a kind of antabuse process, thanks to which there is a steady aversion to alcohol. Previous work showed that this agent has a pronounced anti-cancer activity. However, scientists could not transfer the drug to the category of antitumour agents, since the mechanisms of such activity were not officially presented.
As Professor Bartek points out, disulfiram refers to inexpensive and affordable drugs, so it could be used in the therapy of malignant tumors in many underdeveloped countries.
WHO specialists note that, according to forecasts, the incidence of oncology will increase by 70% within the next twenty years. Malignant formations are already recognized as the second cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
The creation and testing of new anti-cancer drugs costs a huge amount of money and last for many years, so finding an alternative and already studied medication can be a timely finding for the medical profession.
Scientists conducted a systematic epidemiological experiment, which involved more than three thousand residents of Denmark. The experiment showed that the use of disulfiram made it possible to significantly prolong the life of cancer patients.
During the study, data from patients with types of tumors such as breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer were considered.
After the results of the study were summed up, the experts put a number of experiments with cancer cell structures of various types. Then followed the experiments on rodents, during which scientists managed to find a metabolic product of metabolic processes, which became a dithiocarb-copper complex. It is this substance that is responsible for the antitumor effect of Disulfiram. In addition, specialists were able to determine the medicinal target of the drug: it was proved that the active exchange product accumulates directly in the tumor cells.
"We used functional and biophysical testing, through which the molecular target of the disulfiram exchange product was determined. Such a target was the protein component of NPL4, which takes part in multiple regulatory and stressful processes in the cell, "the scientists say.
A full report of scientists on the work done is presented in the journal Nature.
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