Bat plant could give some cancers a devil of a time

Tacca chantrieri yields potent compounds with cancer-fighting potential

2011-11-23

(Press-News.org) In a new study published this month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have pinpointed the cancer-fighting potential in the bat plant, or Tacca chantrieri.

Susan Mooberry, Ph.D., leader of the Experimental Development Therapeutics Program at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center and a professor of pharmacology at the UT Health Science Center, has been working to isolate substances in the plant, looking for a plant-derived cancer drug with the potential of Taxol.

Taxol, the first microtubule stabilizer derived from the Yew family, has been an effective chemotherapy drug, but patients eventually develop problems with resistance over time and toxicity at higher doses. Researchers have long been seeking alternatives.

"We've been working with these for years with some good results, but never with the potency of Taxol," said Dr. Mooberry, lead author of the study. "Now we have that potency, and we also show for the first time the taccalonolides' cellular binding site."

Microtubules are structures in the cells that act as conveyer belts. They help maintain cell shape and help guide chromosones in cell division to ensure that every new cell, including every new cancer cell, gets a full complement of genetic material. When microtubules are stabilized -- essentially held still so they can't do their jobs -- this disrupts numerous cellular processes, and the cell can die.

The taccalonolides stabilize microtubules in cancer cells, but they do not attack healthy cells, Dr. Mooberry said. "We've run normal prostate cells and normal breast cells through these tests, and they don't die. The taccalonolides selectively kill cancer cells."

Until now, how they did this was unknown. The isolation of these highly potent taccalonolides for the first time by Dr. Mooberry's team shows how they interact directly with microtubules.

### For current news from the UT Health Science Center, please visit our news release website or follow us on Twitter @uthscsa. The Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is one of the elite academic cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Cancer Center, and is one of only four in Texas. A leader in developing new drugs to treat cancer, the CTRC Institute for Drug Development (IDD) conducts one of the largest oncology Phase I clinical drug programs in the world, and participates in development of cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. For more information, visit http://www.ctrc.net.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Debate Sex Offender Legislation

2011-11-23

Registration requirements and other restrictions placed on people convicted of sex crimes in Pennsylvania recently have been the subject of much debate in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Lawmakers are deciding whether to adopt provisions of the federal Adam Walsh Act that would tighten restrictions on sex offenders or to forgo federal funding in the form of law enforcement grants to avoid enacting federal rules that some believe would not serve Pennsylvania residents well. Supporters of the proposed sex-offender legislation say it would increase public safety and guarantee ...

Bioengineering yields new approaches for diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury

2011-11-23

New Rochelle, NY -- Bioengineering -- the application of engineering principles to understand and treat medical conditions -- is delivering innovative solutions for diagnosing and repairing damage to the brain caused by a traumatic injury. A broad sample of these new, cutting-edge techniques is presented in a special issue of Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com) The entire issue is available online at http:// www.liebertpub.com/neu The issue captures the broad scope of current and future diagnostic ...

Pourable Gel Fuel Reported to Explode, Sparking Recall

2011-11-23

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced last month that nine manufacturers and distributors have initiated a voluntary recall of pourable gel fuels intended for use in outdoor firepots. The recall occurred after the CPSC received reports that at least 65 people suffered injuries when the fuel spontaneously combusted while they were pouring it into their firepots. So far, two people have died and 34 have been hospitalized with second- or third-degree burn injuries. Product Described as "Napalm-Like" The injuries occurred while consumers ...

New Study: Monetary Impact of Crashes Exceeds That of Traffic Congestion

2011-11-23

Traffic congestion is something many of us deal with on a daily basis. When considering lost time and added fuel costs, it comes as little surprise that the collective effects of congestion cost Americans billions every year. However, according to a new study from AAA, the substantial costs of congestion pale in comparison to the cost of traffic accidents. The Economic Toll of Motor Vehicle Accidents More Than Triple That of Congestion In early November, AAA released a report that compared traffic congestion and automobile crashes in terms of economic impact for the ...

Hefty impact of poor eating habits

2011-11-23

This press release is available in French. Montreal -- Too much fast food, poor meal choices and bad eating habits are causing more Canadians to be overweight or obese. Despite this trend, individuals who eat well are 20 per cent less likely to be obese, according to a study by Concordia University economists published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. "The risk of being obese or overweight is directly related to bad eating habits such as skipping meals, eating away from home, high consumption of fast and processed foods, as well as low consumption ...

Andromeda Biotech: A drug for type 1 diabetes

2011-11-23

The clinical trial was random, regulated, double-blinded and broad-based. The drug was tested on 457 patients, aged 16-45, who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a short time before joining the trial. The trial took place in around 40 medical centers in Europe, Israel and South Africa. The patients in the trial were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One received the trial drug (DiaPep277®) through a subcutaneous injection once every three months, for a period of two years, while the control group was given a placebo in the same way. In addition, all of the patients ...

Happy, feel-good holiday seasons start with healthy choices at Thanksgiving, nutrition experts say

2011-11-23

COLUMBIA, Mo. – While most people only gain about a pound of weight during the holiday season, that pound may never come off, increasing the likelihood of becoming overweight or obese and the risk of related health problems, according to a National Institutes of Health study. University of Missouri dietitians recommend families maintain healthy diet and exercise habits during the holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving. Donna Mehrle, registered dietitian and extension associate in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, reminds people to consider ...

Maryland Man Faces Life Imprisonment for Child Pornography Charge

2011-11-23

Authorities Break Up Maryland Child Pornography Ring In June, a Maryland man pled guilty to one count of interstate advertisement of child pornography. The man used a friend-sharing program to establish a child pornography network that shared over 10,000 images and photos of young boys with over 70 "buddies." Everyone in the network was encouraged to manufacture "fresh" material for the group. Those who did not were threatened with being kicked out. According to statements made by the man, he spent several hours a day making new videos for the ...

The impending revolution of low-power quantum computers

2011-11-23

By 2017, quantum physics will help reduce the energy consumption of our computers and cellular phones by up to a factor of 100. For research and industry, the power consumption of transistors is a key issue. The next revolution will likely come from tunnel-FET, a technology that takes advantage of a phenomenon referred to as "quantum tunneling." At the EPFL, but also in the laboratories of IBM Zurich and the CEA-Leti in France, research is well underway. As part of a special issue of Nature devoted to silicon, Adrian Ionescu, an EPFL researcher, has written an article on ...

"Sexting" and Internet Crimes in Colorado

2011-11-23

With the prevalence and speed of the Internet and mobile devices, racy photos and conversation are often shared via email, chat or text. Colorado has tough legislation that targets sexual exploitation of children that occurs over electronic media. Internet sex crimes have gained notoriety following various political scandals. In a recent case, a 37-year-old Colorado Springs school board member was accused of sending text messages to a 14-year-old boy. The text messages discovered by the boy's sister were sexual in nature and referenced oral sex. The messages started ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

AI finds undiagnosed liver disease in early stages

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski