Researchers from the University of Iowa, intrigued by an unexpected observation in clinical trials, have developed a groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment using carbon monoxide-infused foam.
This novel method, recently detailed in the journal Advanced Science, aims to enhance the effectiveness of a therapy known as autophagy inhibition.
Autophagy, a natural recycling system within cells, is often more active in cancer cells than in healthy ones. This insight led researchers to explore autophagy inhibition as a potential cancer treatment.
Despite decades of research and numerous clinical trials, the results were mixed, with many patients not benefiting from autophagy inhibitors.
Dr. James Byrne, MD, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Iowa, delved into the puzzling effectiveness of autophagy inhibition.
The team made a startling discovery: smokers participating in two clinical trials showed a better response to autophagy inhibitors compared to non-smokers. This was evident in the increased overall response and significant reduction in target lesion size among smokers.
This led the researchers to consider the role of carbon monoxide, which is higher in smokers.
Carbon monoxide is known to increase autophagy in cells and could potentially enhance the anti-cancer effects of autophagy inhibitors.
Harnessing this information, Byrne and his team, part of the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, sought to replicate the benefits of elevated carbon monoxide levels without promoting smoking.
They developed a drinkable foam infused with carbon monoxide using gas-entrapping materials (GEMs). These GEMs are made from safe, edible substances and can be infused with different gases.
In experiments, mice with pancreatic and prostate cancers were fed this carbon monoxide foam while being treated with an autophagy inhibitor. The results were promising: tumor growth and progression significantly reduced in these animals.
Additionally, combining carbon monoxide with autophagy inhibitors showed a considerable anti-cancer effect in human prostate, lung, and pancreatic cancer cells in laboratory settings.
The success of this study opens the door to a new, promising approach in cancer therapy. Dr. Byrne and his team are hopeful about the potential of this method and plan to test it in human clinical trials.
They believe that delivering therapeutic levels of carbon monoxide through GEMs could significantly improve cancer treatments for various types of the disease, marking a significant step forward in oncology.
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The research findings can be found in Advanced Science.
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