Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. It is known to be an aggressive type of cancer and unfortunately, is often undiagnosed until already reaching an advanced stage. One of the main treatments for gastric cancer is radiation therapy, however, the cancer cells are sometimes quick to develop radioresistance, creating another obstacle to overcome.
New research recently completed at Nantong University investigated a method to treat radioresistant gastric cancer cells. A well-known natural product, β-elemene, stood out as having potential to act as a radiosensitizer. β-Elemene is found in the plant Curcuma zedoaria, which has been used as a spice similar to ginger. Previous studies have suggested that it may act as a radiosensitizer against cancer cells.
For this study, 2 human gastric cancer cell lines, known to have different characteristics and behaviors, were used. These cell lines were radiated and then the surviving cells propagated several times, resulting in radioresistant populations.
Next, the radioresistant cancer cells were subcutaneously injected into a mouse model. The growth of the tumor was monitored until the size was appropriate, approximately 2 weeks. Then the treatment with β-elemene, radiation, or combination was begun. The treatments were administered for 20 days, and then finally the mice were sacrificed, and the tissues analyzed.
The results of this study showed that the combination of β-elemene together with radiation was the most effective option. With either chemical or radiation alone, the tumor growth was slowed, however, the combination treatment was even more effective. It is thought that the β-elemene is responsible for modulating ferroptosis, which strongly impacts some of the tumor-associated proteins.
Further structural and biochemical analysis should be done which will help develop the targeted therapy. Perhaps the reliance of the radioresistant cancer cells on ferroptosis can be successfully exploited so that the cancer cells can be finally destroyed.
He J, Li M, Bao J, et al. β-Elemene promotes ferroptosis and reverses radioresistance in gastric cancer by inhibiting the OTUB1-GPX4 interaction. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Oct 17:15:1469180. PMID: 39484165