DCA molecule has the potential to help treat cancer

A cheap-made molecule could be the key to treating some cancers, according to Canadian researchers.

Dicholoroacetate (DCA) molecule over the years has been thought to be able to treat some metabolic disorders in children. Now the University of Alberta team reports in the Journal of Cancer Cells that it can encourage cancer cells to die.

One of the most important characteristics of many cancers is its ability to deceive the normal death process of cells in normal tissue. Many scientists are studying it to do this like t

Breast cancer may be a DCA goal (Photo: SPL)

Anyway, and affect this mechanism again. The latest candidate is DCA, which has been known for years, but has few medical applications. Its ability to affect mitochondria - intracellular units that help transform energy - has led some doctors to try it to treat metabolic diseases.

While there is no final evidence to support this hypothesis, researchers at the University of Alberta investigated the role of mitochondria in the development and survival of tumors. Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, who hosted the project, says mitochondria seem to be poorly functioning in cancer, and he believes DCA can help restore this activity - and make cancer cells difficult to survive now more.

When the DCA molecule is inserted into the cancer tissue in the laboratory, it eliminates the growth of the tumor - and also shows some signs of activity in the animal. Healthy tissues appear to have no adverse effects.

However, experts say more research is needed before finding an effective cancer treatment.

Q.HONG