Vanoxerin is a drug that was initially developed to treat cocaine addiction, but, as has happened with many other drugs that have already been approved and are used in clinical practice, a group of scientists has discovered that it could be used in other ways. safe way to fight colorectal cancer. Researchers at the University of Ottawa (Canada) believe that vanoxerin can potentially eliminate cancer stem cells in colorectal tumors.
This new research has revealed that vanoxerine has a totally unexpected mechanism of action in cancer. The researchers observed that this drug has a powerful effect in suppressing the activity of cancer stem cells in the tissues of patients with colon cancer and in tumors implanted in laboratory animals. It interferes with a protein that transports dopamine – the brain chemical involved in sensations of pleasure and reward – and represses an enzyme called G9a in colorectal tumors. The results have been published in Nature Cancer.
“In particular, tumors treated with vanoxerin become more susceptible to attack by the immune system due to the reactivation of ancient viral DNA fragments accumulated in our genome throughout evolution. “This finding is quite significant, considering that colorectal tumors tend to show a poor response to standard immunotherapy,” said Dr. Yannick Benoit, principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the School of Medicine. from the University of Ottawa.
A promising new treatment for colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world and occurs when cells grow and divide uncontrollably in the colon or rectum. “Cancer stem cells contribute to reducing tumor immunogenicity, while promoting tumor growth and metastasis,” the authors explain in their article.
It is considered a “silent cancer” because it generally does not show symptoms during the early stages of the disease. Although the chances of developing it increase as we age, new statistics show an alarming increase among younger adults. Precisely because it is common to be detected in advanced stages in which there are fewer treatment options, it is essential to find new methods to combat these tumors.
The results suggest “a safe way to eliminate cancer stem cells in colorectal tumors without damaging the ‘good stem cells’ in the body’s organs.”
When looking for a drug that had been tested safely in patients, the most promising option turned out to be vanoxerin, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. By testing healthy tissues from people and mice, the researchers found that vanoxerin treatments had such minimal toxicity that Dr. Benoit has stated that his work potentially presents “a safe way to eliminate cancer stem cells in colorectal tumors without damage the ‘good stem cells’ in the body’s organs.”
The best weapons against colorectal cancer are prevention and early detection, but these findings may help design a promising new treatment option for patients fighting advanced disease. “For those unfortunate people diagnosed with advanced and aggressive forms of colorectal cancer, we have great hope that our work can lead to the development of effective treatment options in the future and substantially increase their chances of survival,” concludes Dr. Benoit.
