May 2024
Miracle Molecule | By: ANNABELLA MIRELES |
A
ccording to the National Institute of
Dr. Aguilera is a UTEP professor in the
compounds that are being tested clinically
a n d 611,720 cancer deaths are projected
aims at researching compounds that can
adjuvant therapy that can be combined
Health, 2,001,140 new cancer cases
to occur in the United States in 2024. Blood cancers account for about ten percent of all diagnosed cancers in the U.S. each year.
However, a compound named Thiophene F-8, discovered by UTEP graduate student
Mia Swain, Ph.D. and principal investigator
Department of Biological Sciences who eventually create a better way to treat
patients with blood cancers, specifically lymphoma and leukemia.
He has been a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences for the past 22 years.
Renato Aguilera, Ph.D. could open doors for
“I fell in love with the field of immunology,” he
leukemia therapies.
cells of the immune system, so basically
a more promising future for lymphoma and
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that starts in blood forming tissue, like bone
marrow, and lymphoma is a blood cancer
that starts in the lymphatic system such as lymph nodes or the spleen. Leukemia and
lymphoma are both among the top 10 most
said. “Many of the cells we study are cancer
in a pill, but further studies of this on in vivo models can help us answer that question.”
Although finding the compound is impressive and a challenging journey in itself, finding out how it kills cells is even more vital.
everything else or does it only kill lymphoma?’”
some form of cancer. So, I thought I would
devote the remainder of my career to look for drugs that have activity against cancer cells.”
and lymphoma therapies.
70
intravenously injected or maybe compacted
at one point or another, we are going to get
reporting that approximately every three with leukemia or lymphoma.
many forms. I don’t know yet if this can be
“The issue is if you find a compound that kills
of cancer research because I realized that,
Dr. Swain led this project for her Ph.D. and
minutes, one person in the U.S. is diagnosed
with current therapies. Drugs come in
lymphomas. I decided to move into the field
common cancers. Prevalence is increasing,
with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
right now could potentially be used as an
spoke about what this means for leukemia
“Typical therapies include chemotherapy and radiation,” she said. “A lot of different
lymphoma, the question becomes: ‘Does it kill he said. “Part of what we do is kind of like a
crime scene investigation. Once you kill a cell, the question is how did it happen? Since
we don’t have bullets where you can see a definite bullet imprint on a human in cells, we don’t know how they’re dying.”
Through these tests, researchers can discover just how potent the compound is.
www.thecitymagazineelp.com