Researcher suggests human clinical trials are necessary for
cholesterol-fighting compound
Researchers at the University of Missouri have proven that a
compound initially developed as a cholesterol-fighting molecule not only halts
the progression of breast cancer, but also can kill the cancerous cells.
“Cholesterol is a molecule found in all animal cells and
serves as a structural component of cell membranes,” said Salman Hyder, the
Zalk Endowed Professor in Tumor Angiogenesis and professor of biomedical
sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular
Research Center at MU. “Because tumor cells grow rapidly they need to
synthesize more cholesterol. Scientists working to cure breast cancer often
seek out alternative targets that might slow or stop the progression of the
disease, including the elimination of the cancerous cells. In our study, we
targeted the production of cholesterol in cancer cells leading to death of
breast cancer cells.”