Could anti-parasitic drugs be effective against cancer?

Could anti-parasitic drugs be effective against cancer?

Metabolomic analysis suggests that cancer uses the same type of metabolism as roundworms

Results of joint research project (Project of Early Clinical Development for Anti-Cancer Medicine and Devices) conducted by the Super Special Consortia between the Institute for Advanced Biosciences at Keio University and the National Cancer Center Hospital East

A group of researchers including Akiyoshi Hirayama and Professor Tomoyoshi Soga of the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Keio University (located in the City of Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Director General: Masaru Tomita) and Hiroyasu Esumi, Director of the National Cancer Center Hospital East (located in the City of Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture) have used metabolomic analysis to show that the metabolism used by cancer cells to create the energy necessary for proliferation could be the same or similar to the specific type of metabolism used by parasites such as roundworms in low-oxygen environments. These are the first such findings ever made worldwide, and are the results of a joint research project entitled "Project of Early Clinical Development for Anti-Cancer Medicine and Devices" conducted between IAB Keio University and the National Cancer Center Hospital East, which was selected by the national government as a Super Special Consortia for FY2008 for supporting the development of cutting-edge medical care. The findings were published in the 19 May, 2009 online edition of Cancer Research (American Association for Cancer Research).

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• ResearchSEA
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  http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/anti_parasitic_drugs_effective_cancer_133014.html