Detecting compounds from vitamins may prevent recurrence of liver cancer

Japanese researchers have identified an artificial compound from vitamin A that can affect a layer of liver cancer stem cells, preventing them from developing and creating new tumors.

The team, led by expert Soichi Kojima from the RIKEN Japan Center, discovered acyclic retinoid (also known as Peretinoin) that could stop HCC liver cancer cells (hepatocellular carcinoma). ) reproduce.

This is a form of high mortality rate and high recurrence rate, although it can be effectively treated by intervention surgery methods, then the disease will return very quickly.

To get this result, the team compared copies of cancer cells exposed to acyclic retinoid and cancer cells that did not come into contact with the compound.

Reducing the number of MYCN genes may help slow the development of the original cancer cell.(Illustration).

The results showed that the cells of group 1 had less MYCN genes (genes that often appear in cancer cells and are more related to poor prognosis) than group 2.

After making some comparisons, scientists believe that reducing the number of MYCN genes may help slow the development of stem cancer cells, special cell types that can survive too much. surgery or chemotherapy.

Experiments also showed that, when exposed to acyclic retinoids in arbitrary amounts, EpCAM-positive cancer stem cells would be selectively destroyed and when the biopsy samples of cancer patients were examined. Postoperative letters used acyclic retinoid, the team also found MYCN decreased in 4/6 cases of 600mg / day.

The new study, published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides an important suggestion for intervention to reduce the risk of recurrence and treatment for liver cancer patients.

The team is currently conducting phase 3 clinical trials of using acyclic retinoid to prevent HCC recurrence of liver cancer.