Specialized copper compounds: A big leap forward in targeted cancer treatment
A motley team of researchers from Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan explored the potential application of copper-nitrite complexes in treating oral precancer and cancer. They found that these specialized copper compounds release nitric oxide (NO) to specifically attack pre-cancerous and cancerous cells while sparing normal tissue.
The targeted therapy is aimed at arresting cancer cell growth by halting their reproduction and triggering their natural death. NO is a tiny, short-lived gas molecule influencing critical bodily functions like cardiovascular, metabolism, neuro-transmission, and immunity. Low NO concentrations promote angiogenesis and cell proliferation, while high NO levels induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and sensitize cancer cells to conventional therapies. It is hence speculated that controlled NO delivery can help achieve cytotoxic specificity in cancer cells.
The promising treatment, which is yet in its formative stages, , offers new hope for oral cancer patients who currently grapple with severe side effects that significantly impact quality of life.
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