Researchers have found a promising new approach to combat cancer, harnessing the power of pyroptosis – a type of cell death that can be triggered by a sugar compound discovered in deep-sea bacteria. This compound, called EPS3.9, has been shown to not only destroy cancer cells but also stimulate the immune system to join the fight.
In lab experiments and mouse studies, EPS3.9 demonstrated strong anti-tumor effects, opening up new possibilities for targeted destruction of cancer cells. The discovery was made by Chinese researchers who purified a long-chain sugar molecule from deep-sea bacteria and found it triggered pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death.
EPS3.9 has been shown to target specific membrane phospholipid molecules, stimulating pyroptosis in human leukemia cells and showing significant anti-tumor effects in mice with liver cancer. The researchers also observed activated anti-tumor immune responses.
According to Chaomin Sun, PhD, corresponding author of the study, “Our work not only provides a theoretical basis for developing more carbohydrate-based drugs but also highlights the importance of exploring marine microbial resources.”
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/ocean-sugar-makes-cancer-cells-explode