Joan M. Caron

Joan M. Caron

Jul 17, 2016

Group 6 Copy 69
2

What makes a good chemotherapeutic molecule?

All molecules have unique properties. 

Some of these properties are good for an activity, while other properties are bad for the same activity.  Some properties are so bad that it will prevent the use of the molecule, for example, in medicine.  Each property of a drug must be assessed for good chemotherapeutic activity.

What makes good chemotherapeutic activity?

·       We want a chemotherapeutic drug to wipe out the existence of cancer cells.

This can be accomplished by killing cancer cells, which has proved over the last several decades to be very difficult.  One example of a chemotherapeutic drug whose job it is to kill cancer cells is paclitaxel, a drug used against breast cancer as well as other types of cancer.

Alternatively, we can change cancer cells into normal healthy cells.  This activity belongs to methyl sulfone.  In addition, methyl sulfone affects 100% of the cancer cells.

·       We want the chemotherapeutic drug to be non-toxic.

All current chemotherapeutic drugs have side effects, some lethal, some debilitating.  I became quite sick when I was given paclitaxel 15 years ago.  I still have no feeling in my right toes.  Often, the most effective dose of a chemotherapeutic drug cannot be given to a patient because the side effects are too dangerous.

Alternatively, methyl sulfone is about as toxic as water.  Recently, the FDA granted methyl sulfone GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status.  Methyl sulfone has been taken orally by millions of people to relieve the symptoms of arthritis (Please note: we have done no research on the effect of methyl sulfone on arthritis).  Concomitant reporting of side effects in humans is virtually nonexistent.  Studies on side effects of methyl sulfone taken orally has shown no effects on the brain, liver, kidneys, blood cells, fetal development, etc.

However, studies have not yet been performed on side effects of methyl sulfone given via IV infusion.  This is part of our experiments planned for Experiment.com.

·       We want the chemotherapeutic drug to be soluble in water?

The reason we want the drug to be soluble in water is because 90% of our bodies are water.  Water solubility means more of the drug will reach the cancer cells and that the drug will be much less toxic.

Paclitaxel is insoluble in water.  This drug must be dissolved in the organic solvent, DMSO.  DMSO alone causes many harsh side effects.

Methyl sulfone is highly soluble in water – 150mg/ml of water.

·       We want the chemotherapeutic drug to be easy to obtain cheaply and in large quantities.

Current chemotherapy is more expensive now than any time in the past.  It is not unusual for a treatment to cost a patient $120,000.  This is in part because it is very expensive to produce monoclonal antibodies as chemotherapeutic agents.  Even drugs like paclitaxel are expensive and time consuming to chemically synthesize.

Alternatively, methyl sulfone is easy and cheap to synthesize and purify from reagents that are highly abundant.  In addition no toxic byproducts are produce. 

Unfortunately, as is known with inexpensive antibiotics, pharmaceutical companies may not be interested in an inexpensive, albeit effective and safe, chemotherapeutic drug.

·       Finally, we want a chemotherapeutic drug to have a history of use.

Methyl sulfone has been in use for at least 65 million years.  For example, the horsetail plant, found all over North America, was a huge tree during the Jurassic period, living communally with dinosaurs, fishes and the earliest mammals.  Horsetail plants contain huge amounts of methyl sulfone.

2 comments

Join the conversation!Sign In
  • Joan M. Caron
    Joan M. CaronResearcher
    Thanks Dave. You have an interesting idea that I hadn't thought of. I will look into medical marijuana labs. Joan.
    Jul 18, 2016
  • dave rich
    dave richBacker
    This is inspiring! Maybe if the big drug companies aren't interested, the labs producing medical marijuana will be. Dave
    Jul 17, 2016

About This Project

What if I told you that there exists a natural molecule that changes cancer cells into normal cells? Ever since the War on Cancer began in the 1960s, we have seen attempts to kill cancer cells, though none of these approaches have worked. With the natural molecule that I discovered, methyl sulfone, I am now experimenting with a hypothesis that this molecule can be delivered directly to cancer cells and turn the cancer cells into normal cells.

More Lab Notes From This Project

Blast off!

Browse Other Projects on Experiment

Related Projects

Are current antibacterial treatments resulting in the evolution of more virulent multidrug resistant bacteria?

Each year in the U.S. 23,000 people die as a direct result of antibiotic resistant infections. I hypothesize...

How do you know a surgeon in training is ready to operate independently?

I am trying to find a cheap, easy and reliable way to grade the skill of surgeons in training. Experts can...

What is the role of copper and zinc dyshomeostasis in Alzheimer's disease pathology?

Alzheimer's Disease, the 6th leading cause of US deaths, is characterized by amyloid-beta(Aβ) plaques and...

Campaign Ended

Add a comment