A molecule found in guava leaves and bark could help combat liver cancer, and researchers have developed a method to produce it synthetically, potentially paving the way for more effective and affordable treatments.
Scientists at the University of Delaware, led by Professor William Chain, identified the anti-cancer properties of the guava molecule. Their findings, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, detail a process called natural product total synthesis, which uses widely available chemicals to replicate the molecule.
Liver cancer affects around 6,600 people annually in the UK, with projections rising to 9,700 by 2040. Survival rates remain low, with only 8% of patients living 10 years or more after diagnosis. Current treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, thermal ablation, targeted medicines, and radiotherapy, depending on the cancer's size and type.
The synthetic molecule could address the limited availability of natural resources. Professor Chain stated, 'The majority of clinically approved medicines are either made from a natural product or are based on one. But there aren't enough natural resources to make enough treatments. Now chemists will be able to take our manuscripts and basically follow our 'recipe' and they can make it themselves.'
Liam O'Grady, a doctoral student and first author of the study, highlighted the novelty of their approach: 'We entered into that unknown territory, I think we helped shed light on this unknown pathway that can get us there.' The team is now collaborating with the National Cancer Institute to explore the molecule's effectiveness against other cancers.
