A recent study has shed light on a potential new treatment for cancer-related fatigue (CRF), a debilitating condition affecting many cancer patients.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered that a metabolism-targeting drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), can alleviate symptoms of CRF in mice without hindering cancer treatments.
CRF is a common yet challenging issue for people undergoing cancer treatment, significantly impacting their quality of life. Until now, there have been no effective pharmaceutical solutions to address the complex set of symptoms associated with CRF.
The study, led by Rachel Perry, an assistant professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology, marks a significant advancement in CRF research and potentially paves the way for new treatments.
Perry and her team focused on DCA, a drug known for activating glucose oxidation, and its impact on mice with melanoma.
In their experiments, the researchers found that DCA did not alter tumor growth rates or reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy or chemotherapy in two different mouse cancer models.
Importantly, the drug notably maintained physical function and motivation in mice with advanced-stage tumors.
One of the key findings is that DCA treatment may reduce oxidative stress in the muscle tissue of mice with tumors. This suggests that DCA could potentially be a game-changer in treating CRF when used alongside standard cancer therapies.
The significance of this study lies in the potential application of DCA, an FDA-approved drug for lactic acidosis, in future clinical trials aimed at treating CRF.
Perry, also a member of the Yale Cancer Center and the senior author of the study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, expresses hope that this research will lay the foundation for such trials.
This study is a crucial step forward in understanding and treating cancer-related fatigue.
It offers hope that CRF, a syndrome that has long plagued cancer patients, might soon have an effective treatment, improving the quality of life for many undergoing cancer therapy.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
The research findings can be found in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
