Posted on 10/26/2024 10:25:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Prostate cancer is a quiet killer. In most men, it's treatable. However, in some cases, it resists all known therapies and turns extremely deadly. A new discovery at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) points to a potentially groundbreaking solution. CSHL Professor Lloyd Trotman's lab has found that the pro-oxidant supplement menadione slows prostate cancer progression in mice. The supplement is a precursor to vitamin K, commonly found in leafy greens.
In 2001, the National Cancer Institute's SELECT trial sought to determine if an antioxidant vitamin E supplement could successfully treat or prevent prostate cancer.
However, after just three years, participants were told to stop taking their supplements. Not only had vitamin E failed to slow or prevent prostate cancer—more men taking the supplement started to get the disease. Seeing these results, Trotman thought, 'If an antioxidant failed, maybe a pro-oxidant would work.' His new findings in mice show just that.
When mice with prostate cancer are given menadione, it messes with the cancer's survival processes. Trotman's team has discovered that menadione kills prostate cancer cells by depleting a lipid called PI(3)P, which works like an ID tag. Without it, the cells stop recycling incoming materials and eventually explode.
This causes the cancer's progression to slow significantly in mice. Trotman now hopes to see the experiment translated to pilot studies in human prostate cancer patients:
"Our target group would be men who get biopsies and have an early form of the disease diagnosed. We wonder if they start to take the supplement, whether we would be able to slow that disease down."
Amazingly, Trotman's research suggests menadione may also prove effective against myotubular myopathy, a rare condition that prevents muscle growth in infant boys. Trotman's lab has found depleting PI(3)P with menadione can double the lifespan of mice with this condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“The typical daily dose is 10 mg oral or 2 mg parenteral.” — Wikipedia
It seems to work because it causes oxidation, which is not something we normally seek, and is what anti-oxidants try to quench.
Imagine if someone asks what is your job title, and you reply “I’m a mouse proctologist.”
Just like you dreamed about becoming as kid.
When mice with prostate cancer are given menadione, it messes with the cancer's survival processes. Trotman's team has discovered that menadione kills prostate cancer cells by depleting a lipid called PI(3)P, which works like an ID tag. Without it, the cells stop recycling incoming materials and eventually explode.
For later
Oh good. My mouse will be so relieved.
Menadione is converted to vitamin K2 in the body. I wonder if taking K2 (which I do) has the same outcome or if the precursor form is needed.
I’m glad to be done with my sir-ograms (prostate check.) Had mine removed 5 years ago and have just had my 5-year PSA checked. Undetectable PSA. Had a great surgeon.
My question is, how do they “give” prostate cancer to lab mice?
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