Available via license: CC BY-NC 3.0
Content may be subject to copyright.
Braz. J. Biol., 2015, vol. 75, no. 1, p. 256-258
256256
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.25014 Notes and Comments
Brazilian scientist is part of elite group of researchers ghting cancer,
obtains an unprecedented patent in the United States1
Katona, DL.a*, Vempati, S.b and Savir, OS.c
a55 5TH Ave, 18TH FL, New York, NY, 10003, USA
b809 2ND St. #904, Union City, NJ, 07087, USA
c4 Morris Road, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA
*e-mail: dkatona@nanocaretechnologies.com
Received: December 9, 2014 – Accepted: December 15, 2014 – Distributed: March 31, 2015
In 1966, researchers at Princeton University in the
with structures similar to the human prostaglandin, that
had stress-reducing properties. These hormones developed
including hydration stress or attacks by predators. Similar to
within plants serve a key role in the genes as well as in
possibly vital to their own communication (Liechti and
Farmer, 2002
key activators in cellular response, including cell death
and diverse stress situations in plants.
cancer cells. Dr. Flescher through trial and error isolated
capabilities. Dr. Flescher observed that the methyl jasmonate
and melanoma (Fingrut and Flescher, 2002).
c and eventual cell death. However, the most important
to selective kill cancer cells while sparing normal cell
cells (Flescher, 2005). Methyl jasmonate thus became an
ideal candidate to initiate apoptosis, or programmed cell
cells stemmed back to the early 1920s when the most
metabolism, was discovered. Unlike normal tissue cells that
glucose into carbon dioxide and water in a process that
involves oxygen-dependent organelles called mitochondria,
(Pedersen, 2007).
Flescher, 2005
studies using jasmonates to treat cancer cells were taking
three possible pathways to better describe how jasmonates
selectively targeted cancer cells: 1 – the bio-energetic
mechanism-jasmonate induced severe ATP depletion in cancer
myeloid leukemia cells via mitogen- activated protein
kinase (MAPK) activity. 3- The reactive oxygen species
(ROS)-mediated mechanism-jasmonate induced apoptosis
plants and cancer cells have been recorded, suggesting that
Flescher, 2007).
researching plant stress hormones as promising approaches
structure, it is not easily delivered to the cancerous cells,
1
Braz. J. Biol., 2015, vol. 75, no. 1, p. 256-258 257
257
ester structure, the methyl dihydrojasmonate molecule, is
an oily solution where there might be secondary problems
nevertheless remained a serious obstacle, in how to bring
small portion to reach the intended target.
began studying methyl jasmonate and in special the methyl
by methyl jasmonate. Dr. Lopes approached his research
but with the same target to see cancer cells destroyed.
began observing the angiogenesis process into chicken
as well as the ability to observe these colonies without
at the chickens embryonic structure and the wide vessel
incubation, the eggs are administered methyl jasmonate
and methyl dihydrojasmonate in the same site where the
cancers cells were originally injected eight days earlier.
to survive and expand it. In order to better understand
this vessels, created by the carcinogen phenomenon,
scientist, Dr. José Emilio Fehr Pereira Lopes, through
methyl jasmonate and methyl dihydrojasmonate induced
Pereira
Lopes, 2009
angiogenesis the MJ and the MDJ provoked an increase
capillary budding, but the cancer originated vessels
were leakier and less organized than the corresponding
Pereira
Lopes et al., 2010).
points in cancer research. Credited to Dr. Judah Folkman
whose published work titled, “What is the evidence that
tumors are angiogenesis dependent?” (Folkman, 1990),
to starve it to death. In his research, Dr. Lopes discovered
exists in the endothelial cells used by the tumor to build
new vessels during the angiogenesis process, indicating
that these could also be killed using methyl jasmonate and
discovered the VEGF, a signal created by the tumor to
develop its own vessels to receive the elements necessary
starvation or anti-angiogenesis used nowadays.
as a new agent to be used as an anti-cancer molecule, the
contribution to cancer research was the method he devised
Braz. J. Biol., 2015, vol. 75, no. 1, p. 256-258
258
Katona, DL, Vempati, S, Savir, OS
258
event happened years later when Dr. Fehr Pereira Lopes
created a new molecule in 2008. Due this creation, the
in a specially designed sugar molecule inspired by a
Trojan horse by using a carrier to reach the intended target.
When A14 (a sugar carrier- jasmonate compound) enters
in A14 where MJ/MDJ is then released. However, when
A14 enters a cancerous cell that cell consumes the sugar
coating, releasing the jasmonate elements and initiating
but also blocks cell signals that release trunk cells, thus
chemotherapy-cancer-resistant cells. In these experiments, Dr.
Lopes used cell lines resistant to conventional chemotherapy
hard work and dedication, but its development continues
issued a patent to Nanocare Technologies with Dr. Lopes
listed as sole inventor. Dr. Lopes has also received an
extraordinary abilities visa granted by the US Government
References
FINGRUT, O. and FLESCHER, E., 2002. Plant stress hormones
cells. Leukemia, vol. 16, no. 4, p. 608-616. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/
sj.leu.2402419. PMid:11960340
FLESCHER
agents. Anti-Cancer Drugs, vol. 16, no. 9, p. 911-916. http://
dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.cad.0000176501.63680.80. PMid:16162967
FLESCHER, E., 2007. Jasmonates in cancer therapy. Cancer
Letters, vol. 245, no. 1-2, p. 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.
canlet.2006.03.001. PMid:16600475
FOLKMAN, J., 1990. What is the evidence that tumors are
angiogenesis dependent? Journal of the National Cancer Institute,
vol. 82, no. 1, p. 4-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jnci/82.1.4.
PMid:1688381
LIECHTI, R. and FARMER, EE., 2002. The jasmonate pathway.
Science, vol. 296, no. 5573, p. 1649-1650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/
science.1071547. PMid:12040182
PEDERSEN, PL., 2007. Warburg, me and Hexokinase 2: Multiple
Journal of Bioenergetics
and Biomembranes, vol. 39, no. 3, p. 211-222. http://dx.doi.
org/10.1007/s10863-007-9094-x. PMid:17879147
PEREIRA LOPES, JEF., 2009. Efeito antiangiogênico do metil
jasmonato, puro ou nanocarreado, um novo mecanismo para sua
ação antineoplásica e antimetastática. São Carlos: Universidade
teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/88/88131/tde-04092009-142533/
pt-br.php>.
PEREIRA LOPES, JEF., , MR., STELLA, CN., SANTOS,
WA., PEREIRA, EM., NOGUEIRA-NETO, J., AUGUSTO, EM.,
SILVA, LV., SMAILI, SS. and GOMES, LF., 2010. In vivo anti-
Revista Brasileira de Biologia =
Brazilian Journal of Biology, vol. 70, no. 2, p. 443-449. http://
dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842010000200029. PMid:20549071
