New therapeutic approach will revolutionize cancer treatment

Newly developed cancer treatment seems to be very effective
Researchers now made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. The experts discovered a process that can trigger the death of cancer cells, and more effectively than other methods used so far.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow developed a method for killing cancer cells that appears to be much more effective than previous treatments. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Nature Cell Biology".

Medical professionals seem to have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. A new approach can often completely kill cancer cells without causing unwanted toxicity. (Image: DOC RABE Media / fotolia.com)

CICD almost completely eliminates cancerous tumors
A new method called Caspase Independent Cell Death (CICD) has led to the almost complete elimination of cancerous tumors in various experimental models. Most previous cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy) kill cancer cells through a process called apoptosis, say the experts. This process activates caspases (a group of cysteine ​​proteases), which then leads to cell death. But such therapies often do not kill off all cancer cells and can lead to unwanted side effects, which can even promote cancer.

CICD often led to a complete tumor regression in experiments
Scientists were looking for a way to further improve existing therapies designed to kill cancer cells. At the same time the unwanted toxicity should be reduced. "Our research found that the triggering of Caspase-Independent Cell Death (CICD) often led to a complete tumor regression," explains Dr. Stephen Tait from the University of Glasgow.

CICD makes the immune system aware of remaining tumor cells
The current study mimicked the conditions of the partial therapeutic response. The data collected indicated that triggering tumor-specific CICD may be an effective way to treat cancer. In contrast to apoptosis, which is a silent form of cell death, so to speak, CICD-killed cancer cells alert the immune system by releasing inflammatory proteins. The immune system can then attack the remaining tumor cells, which have survived the first treatment to destroy cancer cells, explain the physicians.

CICD could significantly improve the treatment of cancer without causing unwanted toxicity
The researchers used laboratory-grown colorectal cancer cells to demonstrate the benefits of CICD treatment. These benefits could be useful in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. "Essentially, this mechanism has the potential to dramatically improve the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy and reduce unwanted toxicity," explains Dr. Stephen Tait in a press release from the University of Glasgow. Taking into account our findings, CICD should be further investigated as a means of anticancer therapy in the future, adds the expert.

Further research is needed
Although many cancer treatments work by inducing apoptosis, sometimes this method is not enough to completely remove the cancer. Instead, such treatment can make the tumor harder to treat, explain the physicians. The new research suggests that there could be a better way to kill cancer cells, which also activates the immune system, the experts explain. Scientists must now further investigate the new method of treating cancer. If the results are confirmed by further studies, the next goal is the development of a special treatment to trigger cancer cell death in humans. (As)