Could Bullfrog Eggs Be the Key to a New Mesothelioma Treatment?

Japanese researchers may have found an effective treatment for mesothelioma in bullfrog eggs. Earlier studies have shown the protein found in bullfrog eggs, sialic acid-binding lectin (cSBL) is involved in a number of biological processes. The Japanese researchers have now found that the protein is able to bind cell membranes. Furthermore, the protein also shows anti-tumour activity, such as degrading RNA. When researchers looked at the protein in test tubes, they found that it triggers cell death in pleural mesothelioma cells. Following this success, the protein was tested in mice. The mice were inoculated with human mesothelioma cells. Some of the mice were then treated with the protein, some with the standard mesothelioma drug pemetrexed, and some received both treatments. When the cSBL protein was combined with permetrexed, the two drugs together had a better effect on mesothelioma cells. This is extremely positive news. If a treatment could be developed using the cSBL protein then permetrexed could be used less. This would reduce the undesirable side effects of the drug, whilst still providing an effective form of treatment.

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Source: Tatsuta, T, et al, “Sialic acid-binding lectin from bullfrog eggs inhibits human malignancy mesothelioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo”, January 3, 2018, PLoS One.

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