Scientists have developed a way of “executing” cancer cells.

Healthy cells have a built-in process which means they commit suicide if something is wrong, a process which fails in cancer cells.

The University of Illinois team created a synthetic molecule which caused cancer cells to self-destruct.

Cancer experts said the study, in Nature Chemical Biology, offered “exciting possibilities” for new ways of treating the disease.

One of the hallmarks of cancer cells is their resistance to the body’s cell suicide signals, which allow them to survive and develop into tumors.

All cells contain a protein called procaspase-3, which the body should be able to turn into caspase-3 - an executioner enzyme.

But this transformation does not happen in cancer cells, even though certain types, such as colon cancer, leukemia, skin and liver cancers paradoxically have very high levels of procaspase-3.

The researchers examined more than 20,000 structurally different synthetic compounds to see if any could trigger procaspase-3 to develop into caspase-3.

They found the molecule PAC-1 did trigger the transformation, and cancer cells from mice and from human tumors could be prompted to self-destruct - a process called apoptosis.

The more procaspase-3 a cancer cell had, the less of the molecule was needed.

Healthy cells, such as white blood cells, were found to be significantly less affected by the addition of PAC-1 because they had much lower levels of procaspase-3, so cell-suicide could not be triggered.

When the scientists tested PAC-1 on cancerous and non-cancerous tissue from the same person, the tumor cells were 2,000-fold more sensitive to PAC-1.

Since different levels of procaspase-3 were found in the cell lines studied, the researchers suggest some patients would be more responsive to this therapy than others, so it might one day be possible to tailor treatments to individual patients.

Professor Paul Hergenrother, who led the research, said: “This is the first in what could be a host of organic compounds with the ability to directly activate executioner enzymes.

“The potential effectiveness of compounds such as PAC-1 could be predicted in advance, and patients could be selected for treatment based on the amount of procaspase-3 found in their tumour cells.”

Cancer Research UK expert Dr Michael Olson, who is based at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, said: “These findings present an exciting new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of some cancers.

“It remains to be seen which, if any tumour types consistently express elevated procaspase-3. That will tell us how many patients could potentially benefit from the drug.

“Clinical trials will be needed to confirm whether procaspase-3 causes any adverse effects in humans.”

Source: BBC News

CHICAGO: Hundreds of people took to Lake Michigan today to help raise money for leukemia research. They were participating in the 10th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta.

CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot spoke with a cancer survivor who took to the water this morning to raise money to find a cure.

This is 38-year-old Travis Wilhite. Looking at him, you’d never think just two years ago, he was fighting for his life. He was diagnosed with incurable Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Right now, he’s in remission.

“I realized at that point, that you know what, in order for me to continue to live like this,” said Wilhite, “to really cash in on the gift that I got of my cancer, that I needed to go out and help other people so they don’t have to go through that.”

Travis along with his wife and friends are taking part in the 10th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta organized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They’re among the more than 600 people setting sail on Lake Michigan for the six-mile race.

There are more than 80 boats in the race. Each owner has collected donations. The goal is to raise at least $175,000, with the money going towards finding a cure for lymphoma and leukemia.

Before he set sail, Wilhite had this inspirational message for those battling cancer.

“Keep fighting, hang in there,” he said. “It does get better, I promise. You’re in my thoughts and prayers all the time and I wish you all the very, very best.”

Wilhite says raising awareness and money for cancer research is one of the greatest gifts he will ever leave behind.

In the 10 years the Leukemia Cup Regatta has taken place in Chicago, the event has raised about $1 million for research to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma.