Three researchers from the University of North Florida (UNF) have discovered a compound aimed at combating cancer, a breakthrough that "could lead to significantly better outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers," the institution announced in a statement.
The peptoid discovered by the UNF team, which targets certain breast, colon, and lung cancers and prevents them from progressing, has been granted a U.S. patent, the statement highlighted.
The study conducted by UNF is among the first to explore the use of peptoids for early cancer diagnosis and potential treatment. This is the only known university undertaking such a study, the text asserts.
"The research focuses on a group of proteins called protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) to understand why they are overproduced and highly activated, causing them to bind to more proteins in the body," explained UNF. "When this happens, a chemical mark called methylation is created on the proteins, which subsequently causes previously suppressed cancer genes to activate: it turns on cancer."
The UNF faculty team includes Dr. Bryan Knuckley, principal investigator and chair and professor of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Dr. Corey Causey, associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Dr. Fatima Rehman, associate professor of Biology. Knuckley initiated the research shortly after joining UNF in 2012. Leading the project, the academic identified and developed new peptoid compounds and conducted biochemical studies to validate their action on PRMT proteins.
Meanwhile, Causey created the essential components for synthesizing these innovative peptoids, and Rehman played a crucial role in testing the efficacy and specificity of the compounds in both cancerous and normal human cells to evaluate their potential as targeted cancer therapy.
University students have also been involved in the research since 2019. "We are still in the early stages of the process, but it is an exciting development, and the research shows promising intervention for treating some aggressive cancers," Knuckley assured.
Currently, the researchers are examining the exact mechanism through which these peptoids specifically kill cancer cells. Concurrently, they are conducting additional tests on individual peptoids designed during the study, while awaiting the grant of a second patent within a year.
UNF specified that the first patent obtained by the team focuses on treating cancers through peptoids targeting PRMT, while the second, pending approval, is directed at specific peptoid compounds.
"This is a lifelong project to contribute to ending cancer," emphasized Knuckley. "We want to continue researching and testing to better understand how these proteins work and how we can improve the inhibitor to develop new therapies or drugs."
Understanding the Cancer-Fighting Peptoids
Here are some frequently asked questions about the groundbreaking research being conducted at the University of North Florida regarding cancer-fighting peptoids.
What are peptoids and how do they work in cancer treatment?
Peptoids are synthetic molecules similar to peptides. In cancer treatment, they can bind to specific proteins, like PRMT, to inhibit their function, preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells.
What specific types of cancer are targeted by the UNF peptoid research?
The research targets breast, colon, and lung cancers, focusing on preventing these cancers from progressing by using peptoids.
How significant is the patent obtained by the UNF team?
The U.S. patent signifies official recognition of the novel approach to cancer treatment using peptoids, which could lead to new, more effective therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.