Cancer can be put to sleep
Diphenyleniodonium (DPI) is a little–known drug that can turn cancer stem cells into hibernation. These are the results of a study conducted by the staff of Oxford University (UK).
DPI "turns off" cancer stem cells, stopping their proliferation and tumor growth. At the same time, the cells themselves do not die, but simply freeze – they live without showing any activity. Even a month after exposure to the drug, the cells remain alive, but continue to be in a state of suspended animation.
The value of the results of the study is that the use of DPI slows down the development of the tumor without producing side effects, as with chemotherapy, which is very difficult for patients to tolerate.
The DPI drug has a tropicity only to cancer stem cells, without affecting mature cancer cells and healthy tissue. But the authors do not see this as a disadvantage, since cancer stem cells are the "cancer-forming" cells, that is, stimulating the growth and spread of the tumor.
The mechanism of action of DPI is the inhibition of more than 90 flavin-containing enzyme proteins involved in cellular respiration. In particular, DPI indirectly suppresses the absorption of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and leads the cell to a state of hunger. The drug reduces the production of ATP in the mitochondria of cancer stem cells by more than 90%.
DPI shuts off energy production and leads to the transition of cancer stem cells into hibernation mode. In addition to the direct inhibitory effect on tumor growth, DPI, inhibiting metabolism, deactivates cancer stem cells, making them susceptible to known treatments.
DPI, unlike chemotherapeutic drugs, does not increase the level of toxic free radicals in the body, which cause side effects of anti-cancer treatment.
The authors of the study call the results of their work a new milestone in chemotherapy: DPI can become a pioneer in the treatment of mitoflavoskins – a new type of chemotherapy based on the suppression of the activity of cancer stem cells.
Article by Bela Ozsvari et al. Targeting flavin-containing enzymes eliminates cancer stem cells (CSCs), by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) in cancer therapy published in the journal Aging.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Salford: Vitamin-deficiency "puts cancer cells into hibernation".