New publications
New drug blocks cancer cells from self-healing
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Malignant tumors are dangerous because of their insidiousness, unpredictability and rapid damaging growth. In addition, the structure of a cancerous neoplasm is capable of self-recovery in almost any conditions, even under the influence of the latest therapeutic methods. How to block the self-recovery of cancer cells and make them more vulnerable? This is the difficult question that British researchers have posed to themselves. As a result, they have created a new medicine – a kind of cancer pill.
The new drug was created by a group of leading scientists from Francis Crick University and Oxford University. The action of the unique drug was aimed at creating vulnerabilities in the cellular structures of the tumor.
The point is that certain types of cancer (for example, almost all malignant intestinal lesions) originate from a deficiency in the body of a special protein substance – aryl hydrocarbon receptor (ahr). This protein substance can be fully replaced by another component – indole-3-carbinol (i3c). According to one of the leaders of the research project, Professor Amina Metiji, the scientists studied rodents that were previously deprived of the ability to produce or activate ahr in the intestinal cavity. “We determined that such rodents quickly develop inflammatory processes in the intestine, with further aggravation and growth of the cancerous tumor. However, when i3c protein is added to their diet, such processes are completely blocked. And even more: adding protein to the feed of animals with existing cancerous tumors made it possible to reduce the degree of malignancy and reduce the parameters of neoplasms. Tumors have become more susceptible to chemotherapy treatment."
Artificial replacement of one protein substance with another similar one led to a decrease in the tendency of cancer structures to self-recovery. The degree of vulnerability of tumor processes to radiotherapy and chemotherapy increased. As a result, there was no need to take excessive doses of anticancer drugs, the number of side effects decreased, and the quality of treatment increased.
It is not yet known when scientists will conduct the first clinical trials of the new drug involving people. Experts believe that subsequent testing and research will help understand at what stage the new drug can be most effectively used to save the lives of patients affected by aggressive forms of malignant disease. It is also necessary to find out whether the drug is suitable for prophylactic use, whether there are any negative aspects of such treatment - for example, side effects, long-term consequences, etc.
The information was published on the pages of the information portal Hi-News.
[