Wart Treatment Compound May Treat Leukemia Effectively

Researchers have developed a new potential leukemia therapy that specifically targets cancerous cells, without attacking healthy cells. At present the majority of chemotherapy treatments attack bothcancer cells and healthy cells, causing considerable adverse effects, such asdepression, anxiety, nausea, hair loss andfatigue. The research is currently being presented at the 2011 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23 - 27. 

Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. Last year in the U.S., an estimated 43,050 individuals were diagnosed with the disease, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

Lead investigator and AAPS member, Peter A. Crooks, Ph.D., and his team from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have created a new effective compound that only attacks cancerous cells. This novel compound begins to destroy cancer cells as early as four hours after the start of treatment. 

Crooks explained: "This is one of the most potent and selective compounds I have ever seen during my more than 30-year career." 

The researchers discovered that the molecules used to develop this treatment are structurally similar to the compound found in several over-the-counter wart and gout treatments, which also prevent cell growth. The compound can reach cancer cells fast before they begin to mature, thereby catching leukemia in its primary states will destroy the disease quickly. This is crucial for treating individuals with acute myeloid leukemia as this form of the disease progresses quickly without treatment. 

Crooks said: 

"It's good to get excited in the early stages of research when you discover a treatment that could potentially be as outstanding as this. However, the next phase is to test the treatment in animal models and pinpoint the most effective delivery method."

The goal for the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition - the largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting in the world - is to improve global health via advances in pharmaceutical sciences. At present, the AAPS is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has themed the keynote and plenary sessions at this year's Annual Meeting "The Next 25 Years". From around the world approximately 9,000 scientists will take part in 90 sessions, including more than 60 symposia and roundtables.