Caterpillar Fungus Compound Shows Promise in Slowing Cancer Cell Growth

Research reveals cordycepin from Cordyceps militaris disrupts overactive cancer cell growth signals, offering a potential new treatment pathway.

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have identified how cordycepin, a chemical from the caterpillar fungus, affects cancer cell growth.
The study shows that cordycepin interrupts cell growth signals that are often overactive in cancer, potentially offering a more targeted treatment option.
Cordycepin is converted into cordycepin triphosphate within cells, mimicking ATP and disrupting essential processes for cancer cell survival.
High-throughput techniques allowed researchers to analyze the impact of cordycepin on thousands of genes, confirming its broad effect on cancer cell pathways.
The findings pave the way for developing new cancer drugs and monitoring treatment efficacy through gene activity markers.