Rare African bush may help Kidney Cancer treatment

New University of Leeds research has shown why a bush that is only found in some African countries could hold a key to killing renal (kidney) cancer cells.
Phyllanthus engleri, also known as spurred phyllanthus, is only found in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. A research team led by Professor David Beech, of the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, has discovered that Englerin A in very small amounts activates a particular protein, TRPC4, and its close relative TRPC5. This triggers changes in the renal cancer cell which kills it. About 10,000 new cases of renal cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. Half of those survive at least 10 years beyond diagnosis.
Professor Beech said: “This unexpected discovery is exciting because it means we could develop new cancer drugs towards these particular proteins, TRPC4 and TRPC5. Englerin A is particularly interesting because it is selective, it only kills renal cancer cells and a few other types of cancer cell. Other cell types are resistant to it, so we think Englerin A has a great deal of potential."