Scientists discover that a parasitic fungus could be the key to curing cancer!

Monday 25th November 2024 11:08 AM

Cordycepin, a substance derived from the fungus Cordyceps militaris, may block cell growth signals and reduce the growth of cancer cells.

Cordyceps militaris is a mushroom known in traditional Asian medicine for its beneficial effects on health. It grows by parasitizing caterpillars and is known to produce bioactive compounds such as cordycepin. This substance has been shown to have therapeutic value for various diseases.

Now, researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a promising mechanism by which cordicepin can stop the growth of cancer cells. This innovative approach paves the way for the development of more effective and less aggressive drugs to treat the disease.

Cordicepin has been analyzed in thousands of genes

Scientists used advanced genetic analysis techniques to study how cordicepin affects the activity of thousands of genes in different cell types. They discovered that cordicepin is transformed inside cells into another substance, cordicepin triphosphate – an analogue of the energy molecule ATP.

This compound precisely interferes with cellular signals that promote uncontrolled cell growth, characteristic of cancerous tumors.

This fungus grows by parasitizing caterpillars and is capable of producing valuable bioactive compounds.

Hence the great advantage of cordicepin, which has the ability to act selectively on cell growth pathways that are hyperactive in cancer, reducing damage to healthy tissues.

Treatments based on this substance will therefore offer a safer alternative to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, which attack healthy cells at the same time as tumor cells.

Understanding the cordicepin mechanism brings science closer to effective and safe cancer treatment. Derivatives of this substance can be developed to optimize its conversion to cordicepin triphosphate, thus intensifying its effects.

Additionally, the study identified specific genes whose activity reliably responds to cordicepin. This information can be used to monitor the effects of the drug on patients through blood tests, which will allow more personalized and precise treatments.

Cordicepin is a safer alternative to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, which attack healthy cells along with tumor cells.

The researchers also point out that future studies could explore the creation of chemical derivatives that maximize its effectiveness, as well as other therapeutic applications for this compound.

With a clear and promising mechanism of action, cordycepin appears to be a valuable tool in the fight against cancer. This discovery not only strengthens the therapeutic potential of the Cordyceps militaris fungus, but also represents a significant advance towards more targeted and less invasive treatments, bringing hope to patients suffering from cancer.

Article reference:

Steven Lawrence, Jialiang Lin, Asma Khurshid, Wahyu Utami, Richa Singhania, Sadaf Ashraf, Graeme J. Thorn, Irengbam Rocky Mangangcha, Keith Spriggs, Dong‐Hyun Kim, David Barrett, Cornelia H. de Moor. Cordycepin generally inhibits growth factor signal transduction in a systems pharmacology study. FEBS Letters, 2024.