Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common type of intense leukemia in adults.
New research changes a natural compound such that it may be used as a possible treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.
Natural compounds frequently have restorative promise, however their energy in the treatment of illnesses is limited by their toxicity or unfavorable adverse effects.
Recent research study led by Gonçalo Bernardes, group leader at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM; Portugal) and Professor at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK), and Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés, group leader at the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (Derio, Spain), and released in the scientific journal Nature Chemistry reports the development of brand-new chemistry on natural substances derived from Brazilian lapacho tree bark to obtain a restorative agent that might be effective to deal with intense myeloid leukemia.
The most prevalent kind of intense leukemia in adults, severe myeloid leukemia, is an aggressive cancer that develops when there is an irregular rise in the quantity of a particular kind of immature blood cell. These cells are referred to as myeloid cells. After 5 years, there is only a 20 percent client survival rate, and illness regressions are typical.
The most widespread kind of severe leukemia in grownups, acute myeloid leukemia, is an aggressive cancer that establishes when there is an unusual surge in the amount of a certain type of immature blood cell. These cells are understood as myeloid cells.” Its essential to find new healing methods for acute myeloid leukemia.” The substance that we checked out in this research study, called β-lapachone, is a promising drug to deal with leukemia, but its reactive homes could have undesirable results. In acute myeloid leukemia we know that one of these particular markers, called CD33, is present in the cancer cells.
” Its essential to find brand-new restorative methods for intense myeloid leukemia. There are a lot of natural compounds with medicinal worth that cant be used as treatments at the moment due to toxicity and negative impacts on healthy cells. In our work, which was performed in collaboration with Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés, we used these natural substances and modified them in a method that controls their unfavorable results and permits us to take benefit of their healing value”, explains Gonçalo Bernardes, group leader at iMM and co-leader of the study.
Gonçalo Bernardes, Principal Investigator at iMM and co-leader of the research study. Credit: Gonçalo Ribeiro, iMM
Back in 2018, this group utilized device learning to recognize the targeting website of a compound from the lapacho tree bark that belongs to the family of ortho-quinones, called β-lapachone. These substances are known for their potential to control the unusual increase in the number of cells that identifies cancer and are excellent prospects for the treatment of leukemia.
” The compound that we checked out in this research study, called β-lapachone, is an appealing drug to deal with leukemia, however its reactive homes might have undesirable results. In this work, we combined two methods to minimize the negative impacts of the compound. This mask is launched in a more acidic environment, that corresponds to the interior of cells.
” Cancer cells have specific marks that tell them apart from healthy cells. In severe myeloid leukemia we know that one of these particular markers, called CD33, exists in the cancer cells. We connected our natural item to an antibody that binds particularly to this CD33. This permits the drug to go through the body without damaging any healthy cells and when the antibody experiences the cancer cell, it binds to the CD33 marker and delivers the drug. At this minute it will turn into its toxic and active type, eliminating the cancer cell”, clarifies Ana Guerreiro, co-second author of the study.
The therapeutic interest of this approach for the treatment of intense myeloid leukemia, the chemistry that was established in this research study can be used for other valuable natural substances, making it possible for the usage of substances with therapeutic capacity that were formerly unsuitable for medical use.
Reference: “Controlled masking and targeted release of redox-cycling ortho-quinones through a C– C bond-cleaving 1,6-elimination” by Lavinia Dunsmore, Claudio D. Navo, Julie Becher, Enrique Gil de Montes, Ana Guerreiro, Emily Hoyt, Libby Brown, Viviane Zelenay, Sigitas Mikutis, Jonathan Cooper, Isaia Barbieri, Stefanie Lawrinowitz, Elise Siouve, Esther Martin, Pedro R. Ruivo, Tiago Rodrigues, Filipa P. da Cruz, Oliver Werz, George Vassiliou, Peter Ravn, Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés, and Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes, 27 June 2022, Nature Chemistry.DOI: 10.1038/ s41557-022-00964-7.
This work was developed at the University of Cambridge (UK) with researchers from iMM (Portugal) in cooperation with the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (Spain), AstraZeneca (UK), Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany), and the Basque Foundation for Science (Spain).
The study was funded by the European Unions Horizon 2020 research study and innovation program, Agencia Estatal Investigacion of Spain, Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation, Cancer Research UK, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
