The Phytochemical Chelerythrine Blocks Lung Cancer Spread by Disabling Key Tumor Protein
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 18, 2025 5 hours, 44 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: In a groundbreaking study, scientists from Jilin Medical University in China have uncovered that a natural compound called chelerythrine (CHE) can significantly halt the spread of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by targeting a key protein responsible for tumor migration and invasion.
The Phytochemical Chelerythrine Blocks Lung Cancer Spread by Disabling Key Tumor Protein
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers globally, with non-small cell lung cancer making up around 85 percent of all cases. Even with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, survival rates remain dismal, particularly when the cancer has spread to distant organs. This
Thailand Medical News report covers an exciting new discovery that may change that outlook.
A Natural Compound with Potent Anti-Cancer Properties
Chelerythrine is a phytochemical found in plants like Chelidonium majus (greater celandine). Previously known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, researchers have now proven it also holds promise as a cancer-fighting agent. This latest study reveals that CHE can block a process known as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which cancer cells use to detach from tumors and spread through the body.
The team used lung cancer cells known as A549 cells and induced them with TGF-β, a molecule that is known to promote EMT. They observed that cells treated with TGF-β became more mobile and aggressive. But when CHE was introduced, it powerfully suppressed this transformation. The treated cancer cells lost their ability to migrate and stopped expressing key EMT markers like Snail, Slug, ZEB1, and vimentin—biomolecules that help tumors spread.
Targeting the RRM2 Protein
The researchers also discovered that CHE's cancer-fighting ability is linked to its suppression of a protein called RRM2 (ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2). This protein plays a major role in DNA synthesis and is often overproduced in cancer cells. CHE was found to directly bind to RRM2 and reduce its expression, thereby crippling the cancer cells’ ability to multiply and move.
In further experiments, scientists overexpressed RRM2 in lung cancer cells and found that these cells became highly mobile. However, even in those aggressive cells, CHE was still able to counteract the effect, proving its strong anti-metastatic potential.
In Vivo Success Without Toxicity
To confirm these findings outside the lab, the researchers conducted mouse experiments. Mice injected with aggressive lung cancer cells showed numerous lung tumors, but those given oral doses of CHE had far fewer cancer nodules. CHE was just as effective as genetically silencing RRM2. Importantly, the mice showed no signs of toxicity even at high doses.
Strong Evidence and Future Promise
This study highlights the importance of targeting EMT and proteins like RRM2 in treating lung ca
ncer metastasis. By disabling RRM2, CHE effectively shuts down the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to invade and spread, offering a powerful new approach for therapy. Given its natural origin and apparent safety, CHE could soon be developed into a promising treatment for advanced lung cancer.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1036
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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