澳研究人員指海螺卵提升抗癌能力

20-05-2016

澳洲研究人員發現，當地一種海螺的卵含有抗癌成份，經過多重複雜轉化後，更可以提升抗癌能力，能夠殺死有抗藥性的癌細胞，為抗癌療法帶來新希望。

早於二零零二年已有科學家發現，這種細小、平凡的白石海螺，牠們的卵含有抗癌成份，直至近期，澳洲臥龍崗大學的專家經多重複雜轉化後，成功將抗癌能力提升一千倍，獲得一種新的抗癌份子。

研究人員指，新療法針對癌細胞骨架，阻止其繼續分裂，相信對結腸癌、前列線癌、乳癌都有效，他們相信今次發現將改變抗癌的方法，可以在首輪化療無效後使用，或者與其他抗癌藥物一同使用，減少癌細胞出現抗藥性的機會，下一步會研究改良這種份子，成為一種可以安全注射的藥物，再經臨床實驗，預計五至十年內可以正式面世。

Sea snails could hold cancer killer

BY JARED RICHARDS |
MAY 19, 2016

Chemicals from the white rock sea snail found to be potent killers of drug-resistant cancer cells.

A NEW CLASS of molecules adapted from the white rock sea snail (Dicathasis orbita) could help fight off cancer cells, according to new research from the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.

These molecules, called N-alkylisatins, were tested against lab-grown cancer cells with spectacular results, killing 100 per cent of drug-resistant cells in 48 hours. Comparatively, a chemotherapy drug regularly used to treat breast cancer only kills 10 per cent of cells in the same time.

The molecules originate from the egg masses of the white rock sea snail, commonly found across Australia and New Zealand’s rocky shores. The molecules were isolated back in 2002 in collaboration with Dr Kirsten Benkendorff from Southern Cross University, and have been tweaked at a snail’s pace to boost their cancer-fighting properties 1000 times.

The egg masses of the white rock sea snail. (Image courtesy University of Wollongong)

According to lead researcher Dr Kara Perrow, N-alkylisatins works by targeting the skeleton of the cell, a critical component in the cell expanding and the cancer spreading. The molecules were particularly potent against colorectal, prostate and breast cancers.

Currently, drug-resistant cancer cells are considered a major roadblock in the path to curing cancer. Within the body, blood cancers and solid tumours can develop a resistance to chemotherapy and other treatments, in particular making breast, ovarian, pancreatic and lower gastro intestinal tract cancers near-impossible to eradicate.

Kara said she hopes the molecules could be used to reduce relapses in cancer patients.

“These drugs could be used as the next-in-line therapy after the first round of chemotherapy fails, as a completely new therapy to replace the current standard of care, or used in combination with a number of anti-cancer drugs to reduce the chance of multi-drug resistance arising,” she said.

For now, the molecule is in a pre-clinical trial phase, meaning it could be five to ten years before the drug is publicly available.

www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2016/05/video-sea-snails-could-hold-cancer-killer