The team at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
in Tokyo have had success using a novel therapeutic compound called
JBIR-23 in mice. JBIR-23 is a natural compound first derived from the
bacteria Streptomyces sp. AK-AB27 in 2008. In laboratory test tube
studies, its unique chemical structure appears to have a cytotoxic
effect on mesothelioma cells and promote apoptosis (cell death).
When the compound
was tested on mice with mesothelioma, the effect was the same. JBIR-23
appears to prevent the further growth of the tumor, without loss of
weight or other observable side effects.
The news is promising in light off the fact that mesothelioma is considered an aggressive cancer that is difficult to cure
with conventional therapies. Mesothelioma is caused by long-term
exposure to asbestos, a mineral used in construction, insulation and
thousands of other products. When inhaled, microscopic fibers of the
mineral can trigger a chain of physiological events that can lead to
cancer decades later.
Although a number
of compounds are being studied for their potential for fight
mesothelioma, JBIR-23 is encouraging because, as the Japanese
researchers write, “JBIR-23 not only prevents tumor growth but also
leads to a reduction in the volume of tumors.” In a report in a recent
issue of Cancer Letters,
the team concludes, “These results suggest the JBIR-23 is a promising
lead compound for use in MPM-specific therapeutic drugs without any side
effects.”
In the U.S.,
mesothelioma affects approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people every year and
its incidence is still on the rise, due to the long latency of the
disease. Early, accurate diagnosis is crucial to initiating treatment
in time to slow the tumor’s growth. Currently, first line treatments
for mesothelioma include cisplatin-based chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy.
Source:
Mesothelioma
