«The essence of our work was to optimize the chemical structure and properties of drugs for the treatment of tumors. These complex molecules the individual parts are important for specific mechanisms. To predict the optimal structure a priori is difficult, so each new series of analogues the subject of detailed research in chemistry and molecular Oncology,» explains Alexander Shtil from the Moscow state University named after M. V. Lomonosov.
Heliomycin was first isolated from fungi actinomycetes species Actynomyces flavochromogenes in the middle of last century. In the 1950-ies this substance is actively studied as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, on the basis of which even created a number of drugs. In a recent study of heliomycin and its derivatives showed that the compound also inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the liver.
An international group of researchers, which was attended by chemists from the Moscow state University, ITMO University, Blokhin Cancer center and Institute, used this antibiotic as a base for a number of new compounds which are better soluble in water and better inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.
The new version of heliomycin, how to tell the scientists to create very easy – just get an antibiotic to react with other types of chemical molecules, however, to predict their properties and to find those substances that will work more efficiently, much more difficult. For this reason, scientists often have to look them actually randomly synthesizing new molecules and testing their work on cultures of cancer cells or germs.
Creating several dozen variants of heliomycin, adding to its molecule, and various compounds of hydrocarbons and nitrogen, the researchers tested their work on cultures of cancer cell of the rectum, bone marrow, cervix, and other organs. Almost all new varieties of antibiotic inhibited the growth of these cancers, but only some of them acted on those cultures of cells that were immune to the effects of chemotherapy.
Special attention was drawn to the subspecies of heliomycin that could destroy the DNA of cancer cells, contributing to the accumulation of chemically aggressive molecules, able to break the DNA chain and cause the cell to commit «suicide».
As noted by Calm, now scientists are preparing to conduct preclinical testing of these drugs and their patenting. In other words, do not expect their appearance in pharmacies and hospitals today, it will be many years before they can become part of the Arsenal of oncologists and other doctors.
https://chelorg.com/2017/11/22/scientists-from-russia-have-created-a-promising-cure-for-liver-cancer...
Scientists from Russia have created a promising cure for liver cancer
Chemists from Russia, Taiwan and Belgium turned the antibiotic heliomycin effective remedy for liver cancer and certain other types of malignant tumors, according to a paper published in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
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