Novel Substance Discovered That Targets Drug-Resistant Colon Cancer Cells

Joint Research by Yonsei University, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Therapeutics NMC

A domestic research team has identified a novel substance that selectively attacks metastatic colon cancer cells resistant to existing anticancer drugs.

On August 24, Severance Hospital announced that a collaborative research team—composed of Professor Park Ki-cheong from the Department of Surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Professor Lim Jin-hong from the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Professor Kim Yoon-ah from the Department of Gastroenterology at Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Therapeutics NMC—found that the new substance, PPS02, induces the death of metastatic colon cancer cells while minimizing its impact on normal cells.

Researchers identified a new substance that selectively attacks metastatic colorectal cancer cells resistant to existing anticancer drugs. Severance Hospital

The research team focused on macropinocytosis, a process that occurs actively in metastatic cancer cells. Macropinocytosis is a phenomenon in which cells absorb surrounding fluids and substances into their interior.

According to the study, metastatic colon cancer cells actively absorbed PPS02 through macropinocytosis, while normal cells exhibited only limited absorption. Once inside the cancer cells, iron ions and selenomethionine ions from PPS02 increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the excessive accumulation of ROS induced the death of the cancer cells.

The researchers also confirmed the anticancer efficacy of PPS02 by using cancer cells extracted from the tumor tissue of colon cancer patients resistant to cisplatin.

Professor Park stated, "Based on the metastatic cancer-specific anticancer effects of PPS02, we are preparing follow-up research for clinical applications," adding, "We plan to push for clinical trial entry to commercialize this novel substance." The study results were recently published in the international scientific journal 'ACS Nano.'

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