the KPRC 2 app which ever way
you’re choosing to watch right now.
According to the National
Cancer Institute, more than
60,000 Americans will be
diagnosed with leukemia this
year. And what could be a major
medical breakthrough.
Researchers from Rice University and the University
University and the University
of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center have discovered
potential new drugs that could
possibly help deliver a deadly 1, 2 punch to leukemia. Now
1, 2 punch to leukemia. Now
joining us this morning to talk
about the findings is Rice
biochemist. Natasha Kirienko
the toss your good morning.
How are you doing? >> I’m doing well. Thank you.
>> I’m doing well. Thank you.
Thank you for spending some
time with us. Can you tell us
right off the top more about
this groundbreaking research. I’ve been engraved with
I’ve been engraved with
deliberate. That was a talented
team at MD Anderson Cancer
Center here in Houston. Doctor
Medina can appeal and she >> To look for new treatments
>> To look for new treatments
that can more effectively
targeted in Kenya cells?
Well, I think a list of target, the fact that houses cells some
the fact that houses cells some
previous research in my lab
showed that up and sells a
genuine sense that if the
damage to their mind, according
to an essential part of the
cells we discovered that causing quite the quango.
causing quite the quango.
Then it is very effective in
killing acute myeloid
leukemia cells in Congress.
Healthy cells seem to be able
to January. Peter, this damage broadly speaking, vote for
broadly speaking, vote for
chemicals that could be at
least 10 times more effective
incue Lincoln, Pena cells that houses cells. But with fallen
houses cells. But with fallen
some that I even when 2 times
more effective.
>> The report showed that some
are just some innovative
methods were used to reach this discovery. What’s the story
discovery. What’s the story
there?
>> In many cancers, tide is
the researchers use cancer
cells from patients that the
growing in dishes. These cells then will be
These cells then will be
exposed to large number of
different chemicals to see what
kind of new drugs might kill cancer cells. Unfortunately,
cancer cells. Unfortunately,
this approach makes a card
to determine when they’re in
effect, a specific. In other
words, you can find the
chemical that kill cancer
cells, but it’s like kill healthy cells just as well as
healthy cells just as well as
I keep telling people it was
only a ball killing bad guys
in some cells, all but 2 infections. Then BH would be
infections. Then BH would be
the only medicine need that.
To avoid side effects with
this. The game Eagles going be
a nice little warm cold, see
guns instead, although it does Belichick and different from
Belichick and different from
humans, it has many features
in common. And even you
three-point seem to be killed
in the We know it will be useful.
be useful.
>> Right, right. So so there’s
that sort of lead you to a new
and different treatment from treatment method based on
treatment method based on
leukemia is currently treated.
>> Interesting key. The
treatments most commonly used
to leukemia also damaged
mitochondria. But in most
cases, this is something Gulf an accidental death function
an accidental death function
as they are mostly intended to
be doing other things with the
new compounds with foam them enough TV to is damaging with a
enough TV to is damaging with a
corner. 3. This has 2
advantages. So just it means
that the new drugs have more
control, the amount of damage,
which makes it easier to find the Doe’s to kill cancer cells,
the Doe’s to kill cancer cells,
but called
healthy cells. Second, they be
combined. Was quarantine Kenya
treatments the resulting in improved cancer specific
improved cancer specific
effect. Both of these factors,
the due side effects.
>> Now through the have you
figured out how this will be
applied to leukemia patients or is this something that now
is this something that now
doctors have to go in and start
working with individual patients for individual
patients for individual
treatment.
>> This is one of the step for
future discoveries. You came
here isn’t married. Their news
type of cancer was of. All right, 2 different mutations.
right, 2 different mutations.
So this is something we plan
to do in the future to this
whole different genetic
veterans that scene in different patients will affect
different patients will affect
the ugly and Kenya to identify
the call for that is most
likely to benefit from these
3 men. And of course, we need
to do some additional work to
see if we can. 3rd, they’re
up to my the treatment to make
it even more specific. And 3rd
there, the news side effects.
>> Now, how long were you
working on this project or or
does the work continue?
>> My life has been working in
this evening after about 7
years since I was recruited the
Rice University by a grant from the cancer Prevention and
the cancer Prevention and
Research Institute of Texas.
More recently the beginning of
a beautiful, full
collaboration. We see that
there can appeal was love at MD Anderson Cancer Center and they
Anderson Cancer Center and they
helped us a lot was buddy
beating all working women and
more deals. But there’s still a
fair distance to go before we
can start this thing. These drugs in humans. And, of
drugs in humans. And, of
course, we do plan to continue
this line of research.
>> And what is that next step
to either getting the drugs approved or I mean, how do you
approved or I mean, how do you
where do you go next? What is
the next step?
>> The but the next step is to
make sure we have the best route to deliver the drug
route to deliver the drug
because this is also an
important part of 3 months.
And also we understand the
relationship between specific mutations in the human
mutations in the human
be shuns cancer background and
the dog efficiency.
>> Do you already have some
ideas about the delivery method
and how that’s going to go
places that you want to
explore.
>> We tried several methods
they wore with different efficacy, but it also depends.
efficacy, but it also depends.
What do you formulate that want
to use as a vehicle? So there
is quite the beetle.
Fine tuning.
>> Ahead, the less good and and do you already have the funding
do you already have the funding
or are you confident you’ll
receive the funding?
>> We apply during number over
a funding could put you in a just and we’re waiting to hear
just and we’re waiting to hear
from those. And of course,
we’ll keep applying.
>> That’s great and work.
And the folks in the audience
go to to to read and learn more about the work that you’ve done
about the work that you’ve done
already.
>> collation department
recently put out some
information about the project.
That is a good starting point for people to look for specific
for people to look for specific
information about our work.
Also, all original article was
recently published in journal,
New Kenya for Genuine Formation. American Cancer
Formation. American Cancer
Society and the Leukemia and
Lymphoma do long profit
organizations that do fantastic
work in beach, an advocacy and how wonderful that sides with
how wonderful that sides with
a local junior looking to his
information for people who want
to know about cancer or
leukemia in general.
>> Okay. A couple of great
places to go. Natasha Kirienko
Rice Biochemist, thank you so
much for joining us today.
And and it’s great to learn
about all of the research and
great work that’s going on in
the medical community right here in our own backyard.
here in our own backyard.
So thanks again to toss your