HONG KONG SAR –\u00a0Media \u00a0<\/p>\n The study was supported by the Vincent \u00a0<\/p>\n GA as a breast cancer treatment and its limitations<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n TNBC accounts for 10-24% of all breast \u00a0<\/p>\n GA is a herbal compound isolated from a dry, brownish resin called \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Nano-carrier increases treatment efficacy of GA<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the search for a more effective treatment protocol for \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The researchers made a bio-degradable nano-carrier out of polyester \u00a0<\/p>\n Treatment efficacy tested in mice<\/b> \u00a0<\/p>\n The research team tested the efficacy of the GA-loaded \u00a0<\/p>\n In addition, the group treated with the GA-loaded nano-carrier \u00a0<\/p>\n Reduced off-target damage to other \u00a0<\/p>\n Furthermore, when compared with free GA, the GA delivered by the nano-carrier caused less damage to the off-target \u00a0<\/p>\n “As demonstrated in our study, the novel nano-carrier for GA \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n “The application of nanotechnology in this study modernises the
\nOutReach<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a011 May 2021 –\u00a0Researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University<\/a><\/b> (HKBU), in collaboration with Cornell University<\/b>, have developed a novel
\ntargeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that uses a specially-designed
\nnano-carrier to deliver the Chinese medicine compound gambogic acid (GA)<\/b>. The
\ninvention enhances the anti-cancer effect of GA and reduces its damage to off-target
\norgans. The invention has the potential to become a more effective therapeutic
\noption for TNBC.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/release.media-outreach.com\/release.php\/Images\/Thumb\/500x0\/149549\/20210511-1.jpg#image-149549\")
<\/p>\nA research team led by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang (left) and Dr Kwan Hiu-yee(right) of HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine collaborates with Cornell University to develop a nano-carrier that increases treatment efficacy of gambogic acid for TNBC.<\/h5>\n
\nand Lily Woo Foundation, and the research findings have been published in the
\ninternational medical journal Frontiers
\nin Oncology<\/i>. <\/p>\n
\ncancer cases and it also grows and spreads faster than other
\ntypes of breast cancer. There are limited treatment options for TNBC and it has
\na high risk of recurrence and metastasis. In
\nthe advanced stage of the disease, the\u00a0five-year\u00a0relative survival
\nrate is only about 12%. <\/p>\n
\ngamboge, which is derived from Garcinia hanburyi<\/i>, a plant with a long history of medicinal use in Southeast Asia.
\nPrevious studies have shown that GA can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However,
\nits clinical application is limited by the fact that it is rapidly eliminated
\nfrom the circulation system and has poor water solubility, which makes it
\ndifficult for GA to reach the cancer cells. Furthermore, high dosages of GA can
\ncause damage to off-target organs due to its toxicity.<\/p>\n
\nTNBC when compared to existing options, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director and Tsang
\nShiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies of the Clinical
\nDivision of HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) and Dr Kwan Hiu-yee,
\nAssistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of SCM, together with
\nthe research team of Professor Chu Chih-Chang at Cornell University, designed a
\nnovel nano-carrier to enhance GA’s efficacy as a TNBC treatment and reduce its
\noff-target toxicity.<\/p>\n
\nurea urethane (PEUU), and they decorated
\nit with <\/b>folate (also known as vitamin B9) and arginine (an
\namino acid)<\/b>. Folate receptors are
\nhighly expressed in TNBC cells, and they can serve as a target for therapy.
\nArginine is a positively charged amino acid, and it can attract the nano-carrier
\nto the negatively charged tumour surface. These
\nfeatures enable the nano-carrier to target and deliver GA effectively to TNBC
\ncells.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nnano-carrier as a TNBC treatment in a series of mouse experiments. Two groups
\nof mice with TNBC were treated with the same dosage of GA, one in the form of
\nthe GA-loaded nano-carrier, and the other in the form of free GA. After 17 days
\nof treatment, the\u00a0average reduction in tumour weight of the GA-loaded
\nnano-carrier group was 67.6% higher than the free GA group. The results showed that the GA-loaded
\nnano-carrier is more effective at shrinking the tumours than the free GA.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nhad 0.23 \u03bcg\/mL of GA in their tumours two hours after injection, and the tumour
\nGA concentration of the GA-loaded nano-carrier group was three times of the
\nfree GA group, showing that GA is being
\ndelivered to TNBC cells more effectively with the nano-carrier.<\/b> Also, the
\nconcentration of GA in the plasma of the GA-loaded nano-carrier group two hour
\nafter injection was nearly three times of the free GA group, showing that the GA carried by the nano-carrier stays in the
\ncirculation system for longer.<\/b>
\norgans <\/b><\/p>\n
\norgans of the mice including their hearts, livers and lungs<\/b>. It also caused minimal damage to their kidneys and spleens as
\nrelatively low levels of GA were detected in these two organs.<\/p>\n
\noffers many benefits when it comes to treating TNBC,” said Dr Kwan Hiu-yee.<\/p>\n
\ndelivery of Chinese medicine, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. We
\nbelieve that our nano-carriers have great clinical potential to treat TNBC and
\nother types of cancer,” said Professor Bian Zhaoxiang.<\/p>\n