A group of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science has a found a new compound that effectively kills leukemic cancer cells.
The new compound has been found to be most effective in leukemic cells, while other cancer cell lines like colorectal and cervical showed less effect. It accumulates death-inducing reactive oxygen species in cancer cells leading to breaks in DNA, which ultimately causes cell death.
The team is working with Mysuru University to improve its efficacy. The researchers believe that it has the potential to be developed as an anti-leukemic agent.
The drug has been tested in laboratory animals. A daily dose of 5g of this new compound for two weeks reduced the size of tumor in mice. It was non-toxic and moderately increased the life span of the diseased mice.
The team is working further in evaluating the role of this potent anti-cancer molecule for chemotherapy.
