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Decoding cancer and herbal renaissance
Lan Ko1,2
1Research and Development, OnkoTarget LLC, Augusta, GA, USA.
Abstract:
The original notion in quest of cancer targets to end cancer still stands, yet the secret of common human cancer was concealed by a chicken-egg paradox. Solid tumors initiate in the tumor microenvironment from rare stem cells, which express a mutant target protein as their specific marker. For decades, the stem cell and target protein cannot paradoxically be found one without first finding the other. With combined evidence from genetics, pathology, stem cell biology, clinical oncology, and herbal medicine in particular, this paradox is resolved. Historical successful anticancer herbs, together with clinical oncology drugs, paved the way to decode cancer. In solid tumors, the liable stem cells are pericyte stem cells on blood vessels in the tumor microenvironment inducing angiogenesis. One identified target protein in pericytes is a DNA repair factor and transcriptional regulator named GT198 (gene symbol PSMC3IP, alias name Hop2). Since GT198 is found as a direct drug target of many chemotherapy drugs and clinically successful anticancer herbs, more herbal medicines worldwide can now be screened against this target. In the near future, safer and more effective natural herbal medicines could systematically treat common solid tumors. This review discusses a unified theory of cancer and diseases in which pericyte stem cells are fundamental to both. It also reveals a new approach to identifying multi-functional herbs. Unlocking herbal targets in stem cells enables effective herbal identification and, in turn, awakens the herbal renaissance.
Insights
Researchers resolved the cancer target paradox by identifying pericyte stem cells expressing GT198 as the origin of solid tumors. This discovery enables screening of herbal medicines for effective cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Herbal Medicine
Background:
- The search for cancer targets has been hindered by a paradox: cancer stem cells and their target proteins are difficult to identify independently.
- Solid tumors originate in the tumor microenvironment from rare stem cells expressing a specific mutant target protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve the cancer target paradox by integrating evidence from multiple scientific disciplines.
- To identify the specific stem cells and target proteins involved in solid tumor initiation.
- To establish a unified theory of cancer and disease centered on pericyte stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed and synthesized evidence from genetics, pathology, stem cell biology, clinical oncology, and herbal medicine.
- Investigated the role of stem cells in the tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis.
- Identified GT198 (PSMC3IP/Hop2) as a key target protein in pericyte stem cells.
Main Results:
- Resolved the chicken-egg paradox by identifying pericyte stem cells as the origin of solid tumors.
- GT198, a DNA repair factor and transcriptional regulator, was identified as a specific target protein in these pericyte stem cells.
- GT198 is a direct drug target for chemotherapy drugs and anticancer herbs.
Conclusions:
- Pericyte stem cells and their target protein GT198 provide a unified understanding of cancer and disease.
- This discovery opens avenues for screening herbal medicines against GT198 for effective cancer therapy.
- A new approach to identifying multi-functional herbs is established, potentially leading to a renaissance in herbal medicine for cancer treatment.
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