A Surprising Ally in Cancer Treatment: How Carbon Monoxide May Boost Anti-Cancer Effects

 

In the ongoing quest for innovative cancer treatments, researchers at the Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, have stumbled upon a potential ally – carbon monoxide. The unexpected findings emerged during trials where smokers, receiving autophagy inhibitors, showcased a notable increase in overall response and a substantial decrease in target lesion size compared to non-smokers.

Oncologist James Byrne, part of the research team, explains, "When we looked at how the smokers did in those trials, we saw an increase in overall response in smokers that received the autophagy inhibitors, compared to non-smoker patients, and we also saw a pretty robust decrease in the target lesion size."

The team hypothesized that carbon monoxide (CO) might hold the key to these improved outcomes. Smokers naturally have higher CO levels, and previous research indicated CO's role in reducing cell autophagy. Could CO be aiding in the destruction of cancer cells by blocking autophagy?

To investigate this further, the researchers developed Gas-Entrapping Materials (GEMs), a foam infused with safe levels of carbon monoxide. Testing the foam on cancerous human and mouse lab cells yielded successful results, prompting further experiments on mice with pancreatic and prostate cancers. The dual-action treatment, combining autophagy inhibitors with the CO-infused foam, resulted in significant reductions in tumor growth and progression.

"Smokers have higher carbon monoxide levels, and while we definitely don't recommend smoking, this suggested that elevated carbon monoxide might improve the effectiveness of autophagy inhibitors," Byrne notes. "We want to be able to harness that benefit and take it into a therapeutic platform."

While acknowledging the need for caution – introducing CO into the body isn't generally advisable – the researchers remain optimistic about the potential therapeutic benefits of this approach. The next steps involve extensive research and clinical trials to determine the safety and effectiveness of the CO-infused foam in assisting cancer patients.

Byrne emphasizes the broader implications of their findings, stating, "The results from this study support the idea that safe, therapeutic levels of CO, which we can deliver using GEMs, can increase the anti-cancer activity of autophagy inhibitors, opening a promising new approach that might improve therapies for many different cancers."

While this discovery is in its early stages, the prospect of a new and effective way to combat tumor spread offers hope for the future of cancer treatment. Further exploration of this unexpected partnership between carbon monoxide and anti-cancer effects could pave the way for groundbreaking therapies across various types of cancers.

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