Dr. Nathan Goodyear on Artesunate: Cancer’s Worst Nightmare in Integrative Oncology
Watch Dr Goodyear’s reel on Artesunate! Click here.
For years, we’ve been on a quest to outsmart cancer, and today I’m excited to share one of our most promising discoveries—artesunate. Originally approved by the FDA in 2020 for malaria, this powerhouse drug, derived from the Artemisia annua plant, is now making waves in cancer care. You might be wondering: how can an anti-malarial turn into a cancer fighter? Let’s break it down in plain language.
A Multi-Pronged Attack on Cancer
1. Triggering Cancer Cell Suicide (Apoptosis):
Think of apoptosis as the cell’s self-destruct button. Artesunate disrupts the energy centers (mitochondria) of cancer cells, nudging them to shut down and die. This built-in cleanup process helps eliminate cells that have gone rogue.
2. Spring Cleaning with Autophagy:
Our bodies naturally recycle old or damaged cellular parts—a process known as autophagy. Artesunate amps up this “spring cleaning,” ensuring that abnormal proteins and malfunctioning cell parts are broken down and removed, which can help suppress tumor growth.
3. Raising the Oxidative Alarm (ROS Generation):
Artesunate generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which act like tiny sparks of destruction. These sparks damage the DNA of cancer cells, making it much harder for them to survive and multiply.
4. Iron Overload and Ferroptosis:
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Artesunate can trigger ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death. By promoting lipid peroxidation—a process that damages the cell’s fatty components—artesunate essentially forces the cancer cell into an iron-fueled collapse.
5. Halting the Cell Cycle:
Every cell follows a cycle to grow and divide. Artesunate steps in as a roadblock, halting the cell cycle and preventing cancer cells from multiplying. This is crucial because stopping the proliferation of cancer cells is a key part of controlling the disease.
6. Starving the Tumor (Inhibition of Angiogenesis):
Tumors need a constant supply of nutrients and oxygen to grow, which they get from blood vessels. Artesunate works to inhibit angiogenesis—the formation of new blood vessels—effectively cutting off the tumor’s supply lines.
7. Boosting the Immune Response:
Finally, artesunate helps modulate the immune system. By fine-tuning our body’s natural defenses, it not only enhances our ability to attack cancer cells but also helps overcome the drug resistance that some tumors develop.
Why Artesunate Stands Out
While there are other promising compounds out there, like mebendazole and ivermectin, I’ve found that artesunate’s multi-faceted approach makes it a standout in the fight against cancer. It doesn’t rely on just one mechanism but instead launches a comprehensive attack from several angles—making it, in many ways, cancer’s worst nightmare.
Learn More and Join the Fight
Curious to dive deeper into the science behind artesunate and other innovative cancer therapies? Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:
Pre-Scribed Podcast: Tune in on YouTube or Spotify for engaging discussions on cutting-edge cancer treatments (link in bio).
References:
Fan X, Yan Y, Li Y, Song Y, Li B. Anti-tumor mechanism of artesunate. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Oct 25;15:1483049. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1483049.