Recent studies on a chemical derived from a caterpillar fungus, which shows potential in cancer treatment, have uncovered how it interacts with genes to disrupt signals that promote cell growth. This finding marks a significant advancement in the quest to develop new medications for cancer.
The investigation into a chemical from a caterpillar fungus has shed light on its potential as a cancer therapy. This chemical interrupts the overly active cell growth signals commonly found in cancer, offering a treatment method that may be less harmful to healthy tissues compared to existing therapies.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy have been exploring how a parasite fungus that infects caterpillars could serve as a potential remedy for various diseases by examining cordycepin, a compound derived from these fungi. Their findings are detailed in the journal FEBS Letters.
Caterpillar fungi are well-known in Asia for their health benefits and use in traditional medicine. Cordycepin, produced by Cordyceps militaris, a striking orange fungus that invades caterpillars, has demonstrated its potential as an anti-cancer agent in various studies, although its mechanism of action remained unclear until now.
The research team employed high-throughput methods to analyze how cordycepin impacts thousands of genes across different cell lines. They compared the effects of cordycepin with those of other known treatments and found that it influences the cell’s growth-promoting pathways consistently.
By investigating the cellular processes of cordycepin, the team discovered that it is transformed into cordycepin triphosphate, a molecule similar to the cell’s energy carrier ATP. This triphosphate form likely plays a crucial role in impacting cell growth, thus acting directly on cancer cells.
Dr. Cornelia de Moor from the School of Pharmacy, who led the study, commented: “We have been studying the effects of cordycepin across various diseases for several years, and each phase brings us closer to comprehending its potential as an effective treatment. Notably, advancements in technology have made it increasingly feasible and cost-effective to conduct extensive experiments, allowing us to analyze thousands of genes simultaneously.
Our findings affirm that cordycepin is a promising starting point for new cancer therapies and clarify its advantageous effects. For example, modified versions of cordycepin could be developed to produce the triphosphate variant for similar therapeutic impact. Additionally, our research will aid in tracking cordycepin’s effects in patients, as we have identified specific genes whose activity reliably changes in response to cordycepin, which could be monitored through blood cells.”
