Release date: 2007-08-17 A breakthrough in cancer treatment may come from an unexpected source — the bark of a South American tree. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have made a significant discovery, revealing that certain compounds found in the bark of the Lapacho tree can effectively target and destroy specific types of cancer cells. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that one of these compounds, called beta-lapachone, could potentially be used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common form of the disease. Beta-lapachone has shown promising anti-cancer properties in laboratory tests, including its effectiveness against pancreatic cancer. However, scientists are still working to fully understand the exact mechanism by which it kills cancer cells. Professor David Boothman, who led the research, has spent over 15 years studying this compound and its potential in cancer therapy. In their study, Boothman and his team at the Simmons Cancer Center discovered that beta-lapachone interacts with an enzyme known as NQO1. This enzyme is highly active in non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. The compound works by interfering with the metabolism of NQO1, leading to the death of cancer cells. Notably, since NQO1 is not present in healthy tissues, the compound does not harm normal cells, making it a potentially safer treatment option. This research opens up new possibilities for targeted cancer therapies, offering hope for patients suffering from some of the most aggressive forms of the disease. While more studies are needed before beta-lapachone can be used in clinical settings, the findings represent a major step forward in the fight against cancer.
For the treatment
of diseases of the digestive system:
Many symptoms can
signal problems with the GI tract, including: abdominal pain, blood in the
stool, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, incontinence, nausea and
vomiting and difficulty swallowing, according to the NIH.
Among the most
widely known diseases of the digestive system is colon cancer. According to the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 51,783 Americans died from colon cancer in
2011 (the most recent year for available data). Excluding skin cancers, colon
and rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer
diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, according to the American
Cancer Society.
Polyp growth and
irregular cells, which may or may not be cancerous, are the most common
development paths for colorectal cancers (also referred to as CRC), and can be
detected during a routine colonoscopy, according to Dr. John Marks, a
gastroenterologist affiliated with the Main Line Health health care system.
[The best news is that, if caught early
enough, they can also be removed during the colonoscopy - eliminating the
possibility that they grow further and become cancer," Marks said.
For those patients
whose cancer has already spread, there are various minimally invasive surgical
options that have extremely good prognoses. It is recommended that asymptomatic
patients without a family history begin getting tested regularly between the
ages 45 and 50, according to Marks. [Symptoms which may suggest that you need a
colonoscopy at an earlier age include rectal bleeding and stool/bowel habit
changes which last for more than a few days."
While CRC gets a
great deal of attention, many diseases and conditions of the digestive system -
including irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, GERD (acid reflux) and
Crohn`s disease - can be chronic and are difficult to diagnose and treat,
according to Dr. Larry Good, a gastroenterologist affiliated with South Nassau
Communities Hospital. [With many of these diseases, blood work and colonoscopies
all looks normal, so there is an absence of red flags."
Many of the
diseases of the digestive system are tied to the foods we eat, and a number of
sufferers can reduce their symptoms by restricting their diets, Good said. [Of
course no one wants to hear that they can`t eat certain foods, but many times,
eliminating acidic things from the diet, such as tomatoes, onions, and red
wine, can have an impact," Good said.
There are a number
of tests to detect digestive tract ailments. A colonoscopy is the examination
of the inside of the colon using a long, flexible, fiber-optic viewing
instrument called a colonoscope, according the American Gastroenterological
Association. Other testing procedures include upper GI endoscopy, capsule
endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic
ultrasound.
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