Arsenic used to treat cancers. Coming close to homeopathy?

[Guest guest]

Arsenic used to treat leukaemia. Scientists at the University of Dundee have discovered how arsenic works as an effective treatment for leukaemia. BBC, UK. 14 April 2008.

 

Scientists solve riddle of arsenic cancer treatment. Scientists have unravelled the paradox of how a carcinogenic poison can also act as a treatment for cancer, hoping that the discovery could lead to better uses for arsenic in therapies for leukaemia with fewer side effects. London Guardian, England. 14 April 2008.

 

Scientists solve riddle of arsenic cancer treatment

 

 

Alok Jha, science correspondent The Guardian, Monday April 14 2008

Article history

 

 

 

About this article

This article appeared in the Guardian on Monday April 14 2008 on p6 of the UK news section. It was last updated at 00:01 on April 14 2008.

 

Scientists have unravelled the paradox of how a carcinogenic poison can also act as a treatment for cancer. The discovery could lead to better uses for arsenic in therapies for leukaemia with fewer side effects.

 

Arsenic is a poisonous metal that has long been linked to an increased risk of cancers, diabetes, thickening of the skin, diseases of the liver and digestive complications. But, since the late 1700s, compounds of the metal have also been used to treat leukaemia. As drugs have improved, use of the metal has declined, though it is still used for a rare form called acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

 

How the metal can be harmful and beneficial has mystified scientists. Ronald Hay, of the University of Dundee, led a team of researchers, including colleagues from the University of Paris, to crack the mystery by watching the behaviour of the arsenic compounds in animal cells. He found that arsenic acts like a glue, sticking itself to a type of molecule involved in leukaemia. This molecule, called Sumo, is then attacked by an enzyme called RNF4, a process that also destroys the cancer-causing proteins.

 

"Our discovery is key to understanding how we can enhance the anti-cancer properties of this poison," said Hay. "Knowing the specific molecules involved allows us to work on creating more targeted and effective cancer drugs with fewer side effects." The results were published yesterday in Nature Cell Biology.

 

Michael Tatham, also involved in the research, said: "People have been [trying] for the past 20 years to piece together how treating patients with arsenic results in the death of leukaemia cells. We have added a major piece to that puzzle."

 

Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's director of information, welcomed the research. "Discovering which molecules are involved in this process is an exciting step forward in understanding this complex paradox - how can a chemical that causes cancer also cure it?

 

"It's a great piece of science that will hopefully lead to the development of drugs that home in on specific cancer-causing proteins to beat the disease."

Think Simply. Think Wisely.

Curb Semantics. Speak the Truth.

 

Check out the all-new face of India.