UP scientists aim to improve breast cancer treatment with compound found in sea | ABS-CBN
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UP scientists aim to improve breast cancer treatment with compound found in sea
UP scientists aim to improve breast cancer treatment with compound found in sea
Members of the UP MSI Marine Natural Products and Pharmacognosy Labs. Counter clockwise from left: Franches Rigel Halos, Michelle Marie Ochoa, Dr. Gisela Concepcion, Irene Pamisan, Eliza Belen. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO/handout/File
Members of the UP MSI Marine Natural Products and Pharmacognosy Labs. Counter clockwise from left: Franches Rigel Halos, Michelle Marie Ochoa, Dr. Gisela Concepcion, Irene Pamisan, Eliza Belen. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO/handout/FileMANILA — An all-female research group from the University of the Philippines found that a compound derived from Philippine blue sponge could provide a synergistic effect when combined with cancer drug doxorubicin in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
MANILA — An all-female research group from the University of the Philippines found that a compound derived from Philippine blue sponge could provide a synergistic effect when combined with cancer drug doxorubicin in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
The cocktail of the compound renieramycin M (RM) and doxorubicin (Dox) "significantly shrank tumors in mice while reducing the toxicity commonly associated with chemotherapy drugs," the researchers with the UP Marine Science Institute said in a release last week.
The cocktail of the compound renieramycin M (RM) and doxorubicin (Dox) "significantly shrank tumors in mice while reducing the toxicity commonly associated with chemotherapy drugs," the researchers with the UP Marine Science Institute said in a release last week.
Their study was published September 2024 on SciEnggJ or the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering, a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes science research conducted in the Philippines or handled by Filipinos elsewhere.
Their study was published September 2024 on SciEnggJ or the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering, a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes science research conducted in the Philippines or handled by Filipinos elsewhere.
The research team was led by marine scientist Dr. Gisela Concepcion, professor emeritus and academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology who has extensively studied marine-derived natural products and anti-cancer compounds from Philippine marine organisms.
The research team was led by marine scientist Dr. Gisela Concepcion, professor emeritus and academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology who has extensively studied marine-derived natural products and anti-cancer compounds from Philippine marine organisms.
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She was joined by Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes, Zildjian Acyatan, Shalice Susana-Guevarra, Myra Ruth Picart, and Eliza Belen.
She was joined by Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes, Zildjian Acyatan, Shalice Susana-Guevarra, Myra Ruth Picart, and Eliza Belen.
MICE TESTING, RESULTS
Concepcion's group had suspected that RM, which triggers programmed cell death in cancer cells, could work well with Dox to supercharge its anti-cancer effects.
Concepcion's group had suspected that RM, which triggers programmed cell death in cancer cells, could work well with Dox to supercharge its anti-cancer effects.
They said previous in vitro studies — or experiments conducted outside a living organism — had supported their hypothesis but further testing in organisms was needed.
They said previous in vitro studies — or experiments conducted outside a living organism — had supported their hypothesis but further testing in organisms was needed.
She noted that while Dox is a more accessible option for breast cancer treatment, the drug alone "is not very potent" as patients usually require high doses of it that could result in "severe" side effects.
She noted that while Dox is a more accessible option for breast cancer treatment, the drug alone "is not very potent" as patients usually require high doses of it that could result in "severe" side effects.
To test their theory, the UP scientists purified RM using a method developed by their collaborators from Chulalongkorn University and Meiji Pharmaceutical University.
To test their theory, the UP scientists purified RM using a method developed by their collaborators from Chulalongkorn University and Meiji Pharmaceutical University.
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They obtained Dox commercially and used 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells, the well-established model for advanced-stage human breast cancer.
They obtained Dox commercially and used 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells, the well-established model for advanced-stage human breast cancer.
The "significant" results of their study demonstrated that RM when combined with Dox "could be a promising treatment option for metastatic breast cancer," the researchers said.
The "significant" results of their study demonstrated that RM when combined with Dox "could be a promising treatment option for metastatic breast cancer," the researchers said.
"By enhancing efficacy while reducing toxicity, RM-Dox combinations may pave the way for more effective and less harmful therapies," they said.
"By enhancing efficacy while reducing toxicity, RM-Dox combinations may pave the way for more effective and less harmful therapies," they said.
While their findings are promising, the researchers noted that further studies — including clinical trials, the gold standard for medical research — were necessary before RM-based treatments could be used in breast cancer patients.
While their findings are promising, the researchers noted that further studies — including clinical trials, the gold standard for medical research — were necessary before RM-based treatments could be used in breast cancer patients.
There were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and 670,000 deaths were recorded globally during the same year, according to the World Health Organization.
There were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and 670,000 deaths were recorded globally during the same year, according to the World Health Organization.
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Philippine Cancer Society President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel noted in a 2023 forum that around 65 percent of breast cancer cases in the Philippines were diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage — one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in Asia.
Philippine Cancer Society President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel noted in a 2023 forum that around 65 percent of breast cancer cases in the Philippines were diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage — one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in Asia.
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