Taiwanese Researchers Find New Potential Liver Cancer Treatment
A research team at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University has discovered a potential liver cancer treatment. The researchers found that the arrhythmia drug amiodarone can suppress liver tumors by boosting autophagy — the process by which cells break down unnecessary parts. Amiodarone, which is an arrhythmia drug, could be a cheaper and less toxic alternative to existing liver cancer treatments, the TaiPei Times says.
The team was led by Liu Hsiao-sheng, professor of microbiology and immunology. Liu’s team looked at 46 liver cancer patients, and found that patients who had lower levels of autophagy also had lower survival rates after liver cancer surgery. That prompted the research team to look into the role of autophagy in curbing cancer’s growth in the body in the hopes of finding a drug that could boost the autophagy process.
Autophagy can play both positive and negative roles in cancer treatment. Autophagy can suppress tumors by preventing the accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles in cells. However, autophagy also promotes cell survival, which can boost the growth of established tumors. Researchers have stated that the process is much more likely to manifest itself as a tumor suppressor, instead of one that promotes tumor growth.
Liu’s research team tested several dogs and found that the autophagy process was increased by treatment with amiodarone. Once the autophagy process was boosted, the dog’s liver tumors were suppressed.
The researchers stated that the next step for the amiodarone drug is to pass clinical trials relating directly to liver cancer treatment. Because the drug is so cheap, it could potentially reduce the cost of liver cancer treatments for cash-strapped patients. Currently, amiodarone costs just NT$8 per pill. Current liver cancer treatments cost as much as NT$1,500 per pill. One month of treatment on traditional liver cancer drugs could cost as much as NT$50,000.
These findings were published in the February 2014 issue of Hepatology.