• Post published:January 5, 2017
📖 3 mins.

Glioblastoma is known to be an aggressive form of brain cancer with high resistance to cell death and poor response to existing healing methods. All of this leaves us keen on exploring new treatment possibilities.

Not long ago, a medical science enthusiast Doctor Evangelos Michelakis and his team a performed series of research related to the treatment of GBM (Glioblastoma multiforme). It was figured out that an ideal therapeutic agent should be able to cross the blood brain barrier and selectively affect cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue of the body.

Indeed, their choice, Sodium Dichloroacetate, had such characteristics and appeared to display no hematologic, cardiac, renal or hepatic toxicity. This led the researchers to one of the most notable studies related to DCA with live patients, which later on guided to the following discoveries.

DCA’s Effects on Cancer Cell Death and Tumor Growth

It appears that DCA induces cancer cell death, decreases the tumor vascularity and slows down the growth of the Glioblastoma malignancy. Most importantly, it seems that Dichloroacetate could serve effectively in combination therapy with other treatments against this particular type of deadly brain cancer.

DCA for cancer causes apoptosis, slows down tumor growth and reduces blood vessel formation in tumors.

Sodium Dichloroacetate Slowing Down Blood Vessel Formation in Glioblastoma

Since Glioblastoma multiforme is a significantly vascular tumor, the process of new blood vessel growth carries a huge impact in determining the cancers nourishment and expansion. Sadly, the acidic environment of the malignant cells also promotes the breakdown of the interstitial matrix which leads to metastasis through blood vessels and the worsening of the cancer-sufferers condition. Surprisingly, it appeared that DCA slowed down the formation of new capillaries in Glioblastoma. The post-DCA brain cancer tissue had significantly decreased vascularity and a reduced network of blood vessels.

Furthermore, it was demonstrated that DCA promotes apoptosis and decreases cancer growth in Glioblastomas.Not all drugs are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, but apparently dichloroacetate had been just the right size to complete such a task and induce its specific anti-cancer effect.


DCA in Combination Therapy for Glioblastoma

The team of scientists had a remarkable opportunity to compare pre-DCA and post-DCA treatment brain tissue of live patients. They found out that after the treatment the tissue exhibited fewer cancer cells, which was a result of an increased number of malignant cell death and reduced proliferation of Glioblastoma multiforme. The brain scan images displayed the same pleasing results:

Effects of DCA for Glioblastoma. Sodium dichloroacetate treatment for cancer

Finally, the study proved that DCA in combination with other treatments could be a promising way to fight GBM. The researchers suggest that a non-toxic substance like dichloroacetate could be used before as well as after radiotherapy and surgery. They also mention that DCA may increase the potential of standard therapies.

Currently, TMZ (temozolomide) serves as a popular choice of medication against GBM. The study suggests that the cancer treatment effect can be further increased by combining Sodium dichloroacetate and Temozolomide.

This information leaves us thrilled and guessing – could this be a new effective approach towards this incurable disease?

If you’re interested in the study and Sodium dichloroacetates potential on cancer, please read more below:
Metabolic Modulation of Glioblastoma with Dichloroacetate

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