A common biological molecule helps kill some cancer cells by
blocking their guardian protein, according to City of Hope
molecular biologists. The finding sheds light on the
longstanding mystery behind the biomolecule’s anticancer
activity. Glucosamine is a common mono-saccharide, or simple
sugar, found in cells. It also is a popular nutritional
supplement, most often touted as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
|Viktor Chesnokov helped find how glucosamine kills cancer
cells. (Photo by Darrin S. Joy)| Researchers have long known
that glucosamine can be toxic to some cancer cells while
remaining harmless to normal cells. Now, a team led by Keiichi
Itakura, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology, has found that
glucosamine can block the activity of a protein called signal
transducer and activator of transcription 3, or STAT3. STAT3 is
highly overproduced in many cancer cells. Previous research has
shown that STAT3, when activated, promotes cancer development
and guards tumor cells from the immune system. In the cur