2014 July
How does Artesunate kill cancer?
Artesunate is a drug that was initially designed for combating
malaria, however, recently it has shown great promise as a cancer
therapy1,2,3. It has been used in combination with some chemotherapies to improve outcomes in advanced cancer patients5.
When fighting cancer it is important to use every tool at your disposal
to weaken the cancer and strengthen your own cells. Artesunate is
another weapon in the arsenal of natural remedies that can make a
significant difference in the fight against cancer.
The mechanism of action for artesunate in the context of cancer therapy is very well defined. Cancer cells have a tendency to absorb iron at high levels and this is thought to accelerate the mutation rate within these cells. Iron reacts with oxygen to form free radicals, which are reactive molecules that damage DNA. In normal cells this reaction is a problem; in cancer cells it allows them to mutate and develop resistance to therapies. Artesunate activates mitochondrial apoptosis by iron catalyzed lysosomal reactive oxygen species production4. In other words, this drug will use the iron within the cancer cells against them.
The mechanism of action for artesunate in the context of cancer therapy is very well defined. Cancer cells have a tendency to absorb iron at high levels and this is thought to accelerate the mutation rate within these cells. Iron reacts with oxygen to form free radicals, which are reactive molecules that damage DNA. In normal cells this reaction is a problem; in cancer cells it allows them to mutate and develop resistance to therapies. Artesunate activates mitochondrial apoptosis by iron catalyzed lysosomal reactive oxygen species production4. In other words, this drug will use the iron within the cancer cells against them.
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