Jun 14 2019
"What's good for our bones may also help stop cancer cells that develop resistance to multiple chemotherapy drugs.
The vitamin D metabolite calcitriol and its analog calcipotriol can block one of the mechanisms through which cancer cells gain resistance to chemotherapy drugs-;and can selectively kill those drug-resistant cells, according to Assistant Professor Surtaj Hussain Iram of the South Dakota State University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
His research focuses on drug transporter proteins, which are the key determinants of drug absorption, distribution and excretion from the body. Overexpression of drug transporter proteins is the most frequent mechanism through which cancer cells gain resistance.
Several epidemiologic and preclinical studies show the positive effect of vitamin D in reducing cancer risk and progression, but we are the first to discover its interaction with drug transporter protein and its ability to selectively kill drug-resistant cancer cells."
Surtaj Hussain Iram, Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University
Furthermore, most drug discovery projects focus on killing cancer cells but eventually they gain resistance to chemotherapy drugs, he explained. "The vitamin D metabolite and its analog cannot kill the naive cancer cells, but when those cells develop resistance, calcitriol and calcipotriol can kill them."
The study results were published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition, a journal of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. "The paper was picked as the best of the issue and was featured on the cover," Iram said. "This is an extraordinary experience for an assistant professor. We are getting the SDSU name out there."
Postdoctoral researcher Kee W. Tan and doctoral students Bremansu Osa-Andrews and Angelina Sampson also worked on the study."
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