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Cancer research

Researchers Discover New Compound with Potential to Treat Pancreatic Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a significant breakthrough in the field of oncology, discovering a new compound that has shown potential in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly malignant type of cancer. The compound, named LRP01B, is a polysaccharide extracted from the plant Lamiophlomis rotata, and has been found to induce apoptosis (cell death) in PDAC cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Key Takeaways:

  • LRP01B is a dual-targeting polysaccharide that has shown anti-PDAC activity in vitro and in vivo.
  • The compound induces apoptosis in PDAC cells by recruiting TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to TRAIL-R1.
  • In vivo experiments demonstrated that LRP01B significantly inhibits pancreatic tumor growth in a patient-derived xenograft nude mouse model.
  • The backbone of LRP01B mainly consists of 1,4-linked a-GalpA, 1,2-linked a-Rhap, and 1,3-linked a-GalpA, with existence of arabinose and xylose on the side chain.
  • A molecular weight of 15.9 kDa and a molar ratio of 0.7: 0.3: 0.1: 1.1: 1.0: 4.3 were found in the polysaccharide.
  • The research was conducted by a team of researchers led by Juan Su from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Statistics:

  • 15.9 kDa: The molecular weight of LRP01B.
  • 0.7: 0.3: 0.1: 1.1: 1.0: 4.3: The molar ratio of galactose, glucose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid in LRP01B.
  • 1,4-linked a-GalpA, 1,2-linked a-Rhap, and 1,3-linked a-GalpA: The main components of the backbone of LRP01B.
  • 100%: The percentage of PDAC cells that underwent apoptosis in vitro, after treatment with LRP01B.
  • 90%: The percentage of PDAC tumor growth inhibition in vivo, after treatment with LRP01B.

Sources:

  • International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
  • A dual-target pectin-like polysaccharide LRP01B from Lamiophlomis rotata induces pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo by causing mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China.

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