Research led by scientists from Tokyo Science University (Japan) shows that a group of chemicals called polyamines can promote the growth of cancer cells. This finding provides important data for cancer treatment research as well as the development of anti-aging therapies.
Polyamines are molecules that exist in all living cells and play an important role in many biological processes. This group includes compounds such as spermidine and putrescine. They participate in regulating cell growth and protein synthesis.
Previous studies on animals have shown that spermidine can help prolong life, improve health and reduce age-related memory decline. Therefore, this compound often appears in many supplements to support health.
However, some studies also recorded a link between polyamines and the spread of cancer cells. A research group in Japan conducted a deeper analysis of this relationship, especially how cancer cells use sugar to generate energy even when the environment has enough oxygen.
Scientists conducted experiments on cervical cancer and breast cancer cells cultured in the laboratory. The study focused on two proteins called eIF5A1 and eIF5A2. Although they have very similar structures, these two proteins play a different role in the body.
Protein eIF5A1 is identified as necessary for healthy cells. Meanwhile, eIF5A2 is believed to be closely related to the development of cancer. Because polyamines affect the formation of these two proteins, scientists believe that this may be the cause of the "double role" of spermidine.
The results showed that polyamines can promote cancer cells to switch to an energy-generating mechanism called aerobic digestion, a process commonly used by cancer cells to accelerate growth. At the same time, these compounds increase eIF5A2 protein levels by eliminating a natural inhibitory mechanism related to the RNA molecule miR-6514-5p.
When researchers remove polyamine or eIF5A2 protein from cancer cells, the growth rate of cells is significantly reduced. Conversely, spermidine supplementation helps restore the growth of these cells.
Biochemist Kyohei Higashi of Tokyo University of Science said that polyamine has different biological effects between normal tissue and cancerous tissue. In healthy tissue, polyamine activates the protein eIF5A1 and supports mitochondrial activity. In cancerous tissue, polyamine promotes the production of eIF5A2, thereby activating mechanisms that help cancer cells grow.
However, scientists emphasize that research cannot conclude whether polyamine or spermidine directly causes cancer. The results show that when cancer has appeared, cancer cells can take advantage of polyamine to increase growth and spread.
New findings on the role of eIF5A2 and the molecule miR-6514-5p open up the possibility of finding new cancer treatment targets. According to researchers, impacting these proteins or molecules can help disrupt the mechanisms that cancer cells use to grow.
However, research is currently only being carried out on cultured cells in the laboratory. Scientists believe that more research is needed to assess the impact on living organisms and ensure that healthy cells are not affected.
