New compound stops cancer growth

The new compound, called MYD1-72, acts as a receptor, capable of binding to and eliminating cancer cells, preventing the disease from developing.

Compound MYD1-72 has the ability to prevent cancer growth. Illustration: Wikipedia.

A research team at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US has just created a new compound called MYD1-72 that can reduce or prevent the growth of cancer cells better than current treatments, according to Nature World News.

In a study published in the journal Clinical Investigation on November 28, the new compound is described as a receptor that can hold Gas6, a key cancer-causing molecule, and make it inactive, thereby slowing the progression of the disease.

“The new compound was even able to cure some animals, including those with metastatic malignancies,” said Amato Giaccia, professor of radiation oncology and senior author of the study.

Scientists used yeast to observe changes in the protein Axl, a surface receptor that plays a key role in cell survival, growth, and migration. In some cancers, this receptor binds strongly to Gas6, making it difficult for current treatments to target cancer cells.

MYD1-72 acts as a decoy receptor, able to bind to Gas6 about 350 times better than Axl. When given to mice, it attracts and removes Gas6 from the system, preventing it from activating Axl, thereby preventing cancer cell growth and metastasis.

The team confirmed that MYD1-72 can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, both of which were effective in mice. In addition, the scientists said the compound was better than current treatments for pancreatic and ovarian cancer. They hope to take the new compound to clinical trials and determine its effectiveness against other cancers such as leukemia.

According to VNE