The DCA molecule has renewed hope in the fight against cancer

DCA is an odorless, colorless, inexpensive and non-toxic molecule. University of Alberta researchers, in Edmonton, Canada, believe the molecule will quickly become an effective remedy for all types of cancer.

Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, professor of pharmacy at the University of Alberta, has shown that DCA (a molecule of chlorine acupuncture) will cause some diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer and brain tumors to return the beginning of the disease.

Michelakis and his colleagues, including Dr. Sebastian Bonnet, have published the results of their research on the Mail Cell Journal.

Scientists and doctors have been using DCA for a long time to treat metabolic disorders in children caused by diseases related to fibrous granules (or mitochondria). Mitochondria, which convert organic matter into energy that cells can use, have been identified as linked to cancer since the 30s of the century before researchers first developed it. Currently, these organs have been unusually active with the appearance of cancer.

Until recently, researchers believed that cancer-infected mitochondria were only temporarily damaged and that this injury was the result of cancer, not the cause of cancer. letter. However, Michelakis was skeptical of this and he began testing DCA by activating a major mitochondrial enzyme as a way to " revive " cancer-infected mitochondria.

The result surprised him.

DCA molecule.
(Photo: University of Alberta, Canada)

Michelakis and his colleagues found that DCA made the function of mitochondrial particles in many types of cancers work again. They have shown that the function of mitochondrial particles is immediately interrupted by cancer but not completely permanently damaged by the disease.

They also discovered something more important that the normal functioning of mitochondria was the result of a significant increase in the number of tumors cultured both in vitro and in animals. In addition, they noted that the DCA compound, unlike recent therapeutic chemicals, does not affect normal cells and cancer-free cells.

Michelakis said ' I think DCA can be used to treat cancer because it attacks an essential process in the development of cancer cells. Cancer cells prevent its mitochondria in a positive way. This has changed its metabolic mechanism and it seems that this has also given cancer cells an important advantage over normal cells as well as protecting it from chemotherapy. . Because mitochondria control the process of self-death of cells, cancer cells can counteract this process and seem to be the exact opposite of DCA compounds . '

Michelakis further explains' one of the interesting things about this compound is that it can be used to cure many types of cancer because all types of cancers inhibit the function of mitochondria. This explains that most cancers can be detected by the method of PET (the method of capturing the emission of polyethylene particles). This method also detects the only difference in the metabolic profile of cancer cells compared to normal cells '.

Another encouraging thing about DCA is that in a small size, it is easily absorbed in the body and after being taken into the body by mouth it can go anywhere in the body. the other drugs cannot be reached, for example, it can be used to treat brain cancer. Besides because DCA has been used for both healthy people and metabolic disorders, researchers all know that it is a non-toxic molecule and can now be used for testing on people with cancer.

Furthermore, the DCA compound is not patented and is not owned by any pharmaceutical company so it will be an inexpensive drug.

However, Michelakis is concerned that because DCA is not registered for patent rights, it is difficult to source funding for DCA tests on humans. He is very grateful for support from donor agencies such as Canada's Health Research Institute (CIHR). He also hopes that he will continue to receive support so that he can conduct DCA testing in cancer patients.

Dr. Philip Branton, director of the Canadian Institute of Health Research, said: 'This research is encouraging and gives hope to thousands of Canadians and all cancer patients around the world because it has made it increase our understanding of cancer treatments'.

The Kiet