Scientists from the Yale Cancer Center in the USA have developed a drug that relieves the feeling of fatigue caused by cancer. The drug helps restore vitality without reducing the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In this respect reportsEurekAlert.
Cancer-related fatigue is a symptom experienced by almost all cancer patients. Chronic fatigue can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy or as an independent symptom of many types of cancer. Fatigue is often severe and worsens the quality of life of people with cancer.
A new drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) is an activator of glucose oxidation. A glucose molecule entering a body cell is oxidized to form water and carbon dioxide. This releases the energy the body needs to move, maintain body temperature, and exercise.
Researchers have already tested dichloroacetate on mice with cancer. Rodents exposed to the drug became more active. Additionally, DCA did not reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapies and chemotherapy used to treat melanoma in mice.
Scientists hope that the drug could be used in the future as an adjunctive treatment for people suffering from fatigue due to cancer.
Previous scientists learned Program immune cells to fight cancer.