BEC the Anti Cancer Agent
Dr. Cham discovered and described a novel Mode of Action of BEC in selectively destroying cancer cells without harming normal cells (1990).
Click image for larger view
- Specific endogenous endocytic lectins (EELs)
were found to be present at much higher concentrations in cancer cells
relative to normal cells.
- These
EELs were present on the cell surface as receptors which recognized and
bound the sugar moiety, in particular the rhamnose sugar (1990).
- BEC was subsequently internalized in the cancer
cell and became lysosomotropic and consequently autolysis occurred.
- The disintegrated lysosome resulted in apoptosis of the affected cancer cells.
BEC was also shown to induce cell apoptosis by modulating tissue necrosis factor (TNF) (2004).
