Scientists have discovered an important connection between eating too much red meat and a higher risk of colorectal cancer. This research opens the door to new treatment options that focus on telomerase, an enzyme linked to the growth of cancer.
Researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), in collaboration with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), have established a significant relationship between excessive red meat intake and the elevated risk of developing colorectal cancer. These findings may lead to innovative therapeutic approaches that target telomerase, an enzyme associated with the advancement of cancer.
Colorectal cancer, which impacts the colon or rectum, ranks as the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Singapore. While it is recognized that genetics and lifestyle choices, including diet, play roles in its emergence, the precise process by which high consumption of red meat contributes to cancer has remained elusive until now.
A research article published in the journal Cancer Discovery revealed that iron found in red meat activates telomerase, an enzyme responsible for elongating DNA chromosome ends, thus promoting the progression of colorectal cancer. This discovery provides significant insights into how our eating habits can influence cancer development.
Exciting New Treatment Possibilities
The research also highlighted a promising new treatment strategy. The team identified a small molecule called SP2509, capable of preventing telomerase reactivation in cancer cells by blocking iron’s interaction with the enzyme. Laboratory tests on cancer cell lines showed that SP2509 not only stopped telomerase from reactivating but also slowed tumor growth, suggesting a new method for fighting colorectal cancer.
A*STAR’s Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) spearheaded this cross-disciplinary research team, which included experts from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), as well as medical professionals from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and NCCS.
“By elucidating the role of iron in telomerase activation, we are opening new pathways for tackling colorectal cancer,” commented Professor Vinay Tergaonkar, Distinguished Principal Investigator at A*STAR IMCB. “Our upcoming research will aim to refine treatment strategies that specifically target this mechanism, with the hope of creating more effective therapies for patients, particularly those with elevated iron levels. We are enthusiastic about the potential of small molecules like SP2509 to change the landscape of cancer treatment and enhance patient outcomes worldwide.”
Study Insights and Methodology
To understand how high iron levels facilitate colorectal cancer progression, the team analyzed samples from colorectal cancer patients using a blend of human colorectal cancer cell lines and advanced lab models. By working with clinicians from NCCS, they showed that iron interacts with a protein known as Pirin, which causes the reactivation of telomerase in cancer cells—a critical factor in their uncontrolled growth.
Further testing on human colorectal cell lines led to the discovery of the small molecule SP2509, which competes with iron for binding to Pirin, effectively stopping telomerase reactivation. These results not only provide a fresh therapeutic strategy but also grant valuable insights into how consuming iron-rich red meats affects the molecular pathways leading to colorectal cancer. The national research initiative, Colo-SCRIPT, which aims to leverage insights on various colorectal cancer subtypes to lower cancer occurrence and improve patient outcomes, will utilize these discoveries to explore the roles of environmental, metabolic, and microbial risk factors in disease progression.
“Through the Colo-SCRIPT program, we will continue to explore the influence of iron and other risk factors on the development of colorectal cancer. The findings will offer vital knowledge about how these factors contribute to different subtypes of the disease and could help us uncover new prevention and treatment strategies,” stated Associate Professor Iain Tan, Senior Consultant in the Division of Medical Oncology at NCCS.
