Minkang Institute of Oral Mucosal Diseases
In the long-standing battle between humans and cancer, scientists have been relentlessly searching for more precise and powerful weapons. In recent years, a type of bioactive molecule called "Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)" has been quietly emerging. Not only can it combat bacteria, but it also demonstrates remarkable anti-tumor potential—like a "smart key" bestowed by nature, which accurately unlocks the life defense line of cancer cells.
What are antimicrobial peptides? Why are they so miraculous?
Antimicrobial peptides are a class of small-molecule peptides naturally present in organisms, widely found in humans, animals, plants, and even microorganisms. They are an important part of the immune system. Originally, their role was that of "natural antibiotics," capable of quickly damaging the cell membranes of bacteria and eliminating invading pathogens.
However, even more astonishingly, many antimicrobial peptides also possess the ability to selectively attack tumor cells. Just like "smart missiles," they identify and bind to the surface of cancer cells, and through physically damaging the cell membranes, cause the lysis and death of cancer cells. This mechanism is completely different from that of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, avoiding the problem of drug resistance and reducing damage to normal cells.
How do antimicrobial peptides accurately kill cancer cells?
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Precise Recognition: The surface of cancer cell membranes usually carries more negative charges, while many antimicrobial peptides are positively charged, enabling precise binding through electrostatic attraction.
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Rapid Membrane Destruction: Antimicrobial peptides can insert into the cell membrane, forming pores and leading to the leakage of cell contents ("cell disintegration").
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Inducing Apoptosis: Some antimicrobial peptides can also enter the interior of cells, trigger the mitochondrial pathway, and initiate programmed cell death.
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Inhibiting Metastasis: By blocking tumor angiogenesis and migration-related signals, the spread of cancer cells is inhibited.
Advantages: Smarter and Safer Than Traditional Therapies
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Low Drug Resistance: The physical membrane-destruction mechanism makes it difficult for cancer cells to adapt and evolve.
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High Selectivity: The toxicity to normal cells is much lower than that of chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Synergistic Enhancement: It can enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and the combined use yields better results.
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Immunomodulation: Some antimicrobial peptides can activate immune cells and strengthen the body's own anti-cancer ability.
Future Outlook: Challenges and Hopes from Laboratory to Clinic
Currently, a variety of antimicrobial peptides (such as LL-37, Melittin, Defensins, etc.) have shown significant effects in models of lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, and other cancers. Although challenges such as stability, large-scale production, and drug delivery methods still exist, through strategies like nanotechnology modification and artificial optimization design, antimicrobial peptides are gradually moving towards clinical application.
Perhaps in the near future, anti-cancer therapies based on antimicrobial peptides will become an important part of the cancer treatment landscape—a more natural, precise, and irresistible "bio-intelligent weapon."
In the microscopic world of nature, countless mysteries of life are hidden. The anti-cancer miracle of antimicrobial peptides is another example of science learning from the wisdom of life. This time, we may have truly found a new path of "using the power of nature to overcome the threat of cancer."
"Nine out of ten oral cancer patients are betel nut chewers." Betel nut contains a type of chemical substance that, after being chewed, produces carcinogenic nitrosamines. Moreover, betel nut has a relatively hard texture, so the chewing process can easily damage the oral mucosa, accompanied by various lesions such as frequent oral ulcers and gingival recession. Under this "double blow," the risk of developing oral cancer increases.
As early as 2003, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified betel nut as a Group 1 carcinogen. In 2017, the former State Food and Drug Administration of China also listed betel nut as a Group 1 carcinogen when releasing the list of carcinogens.
In 2018, institutions including the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention jointly conducted a survey on the status of betel nut chewing and oral cancer in Hunan Province. At that time, among 50 inpatients in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Ward of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 45 had oral cancer, and 44 of them had a long history of heavy betel nut chewing. Not long ago, Fu Song, a 36-year-old singer, also passed away due to oral cancer caused by long-term betel nut chewing.
As the saying goes, "Nine out of ten oral cancer patients are betel nut chewers." Betel nut contains a chemical that produces carcinogenic nitrosamines when chewed. Additionally, betel nut is relatively hard, so chewing it can easily damage the oral mucosa, leading to frequent oral ulcers, gingival recession, and other lesions. Under this "double blow," the likelihood of developing oral cancer increases.
As early as 2003, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified betel nut as a Group 1 carcinogen. In 2017, the former State Food and Drug Administration of China also listed betel nut as a Group 1 carcinogen when publishing the list of carcinogens.
In 2018, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other institutions jointly investigated the current situation of betel nut chewing and oral cancer in Hunan Province. At that time, among 50 inpatients in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Ward of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 45 suffered from oral cancer, and 44 of them had a long history of heavy betel nut chewing. Not long ago, Fu Song, a 36-year-old singer, also died of oral cancer caused by long-term betel nut chewing.
The main reasons why betel nut causes oral cancer include the following:
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Chemical Substances in Betel Nut: Alkaloids in betel nut, such as arecoline and arecaidine, can bind to proteins on the oral mucosa to form nitrosamine compounds. These compounds can damage the DNA of cells, leading to cell carcinogenesis.
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Physical Irritation from Betel Nut: Betel nut has a hard texture. Long-term chewing will repeatedly rub the oral mucosa, causing mechanical trauma and leading to precancerous lesions such as oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia.
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Impact of Additives: When chewing betel nut, substances such as Piper betle leaves, Piper betle flowers, and lime are often added. These additives enhance the irritation and carcinogenicity of betel nut. For example, safrole in Piper betle leaves and flowers is a weak carcinogen, and lime increases the pH value of the oral cavity, making the oral mucosa more vulnerable to damage.
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Impact of Long-Term Consumption: Long-term consumption of betel nut can cause chronic inflammation and damage to the oral mucosa, increasing the risk of carcinogenesis. Studies have shown that there is a close correlation between betel nut chewing and the occurrence of oral cancer, and the risk of developing the disease increases with the duration and amount of betel nut chewing.
Sodium Subtilisin Lipopeptide is a bioactive peptide produced by the fermentation of Bacillus subtilis. It has biodegradability, good biocompatibility, ultra-low irritation, and stable physical and chemical properties. As an antimicrobial peptide (Bacitracin), Sodium Subtilisin Lipopeptide has a strong antibacterial and bacteriolytic effect. It kills bacteria by destroying the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane, resulting in the loss of the barrier between the inside and outside of the cell. It has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, especially a strong killing effect on certain drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. It can also kill some viruses, fungi, protozoa, and cancer cells, and even enhance immunity and accelerate wound healing.
Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP for short) is a high-molecular-weight non-ionic surfactant. It has excellent physiological inertness, does not participate in human metabolism, and also has good biocompatibility, causing no irritation to the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, etc. It has film-forming, adhesive, detoxifying, and sustained-release properties, and is highly water-soluble and has excellent microbial degradability. Pharmaceutical-grade PVP physically shields the wound surface on the surface of oral ulcers or tissue wounds, forming a protective layer, thereby alleviating the pain of patients with oral mucosal diseases.
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC-Na for short) is an adsorptive non-ionic surfactant. It has adsorptive properties, enabling it to adsorb and protect the skin, and also has moisturizing and lubricating effects. In addition, it has a certain anesthetic effect, which can effectively relieve the pain of ulcer wounds. In the treatment of skin burns or ulcers, it helps form a protective film, which can reduce external irritation to the wound and lower the risk of infection.
Bioactive antimicrobial peptides accurately kill cancer cells, PVP forms a film to protect tissues, and CMC-Na lubricates and relieves pain—empowering patients with oral cancer to regain their lives!
