A weapon against cancer
So, what is this weapon against cancer? Well, it is a substance called “phenazines.”. Someone could ask what the heck is “phenazines”, for once it is an organic compound, secondly let’s define what this quote and quote weapon against cancer is. Phenazines are a large group of nitrogen-containing heterocycles (compounds with a ring structure composed of at least two different elements). Before we go any further, let’s look at some of the numbers about cancer because this way, I can show why finding a cure is so important. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018 (In 2018, there were about 7.53 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants worldwide). Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. See why finding a cure for cancer so important.
What is so important about these Phenazines? Well, type of Phenazines named N-alkylphenazin-1-ones has anti-bacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. This cytotoxic ability is what is important because if we can “direct” cytotoxic compounds against cancer cells, we can eliminate cancer.
Determined to shed lighter on them and harness properties of Phenazines for good, a group of scientists from the Tokyo University of Science, led by Prof Kouji Kuramochi, has decided to do exactly that. How do they do this you might ask, well they used serval methods to artificially produce alkylphenazin-1-ones. The first method they are using is “halogenation” (the process of adding halogens like chlorine and bromine), the second method is “oxidative condensation”. (addition of an oxidant and a water molecule).
These scientists found an organic compound called 2-chloropyocyanin (a type of phenazines), which is highly cytotoxic against lung cancer. Prof Kuramochi and his team will do animal and clinical studies regarding this newfound organic compound. As a result, we could hope that in the future more effective anticancer drugs, which are less effective towards normal body cells and more effective towards cancer cells would emanate. These new components are four times more selectively toxic to cancer cells than normal cells. Only time can tell this new weapon actually a weapon against cancer or not; fingers crossed.
