Protecting the Heart Health of Chemotherapy Patients

A long-standing presence in the Atlanta entrepreneurial community, Eugene E. Houchins III leads American Life Fund Corp, a company that provides financial lifelines to people facing serious illnesses. Passionate about health and wellness, Eugene E. Houchins III has a particular interest in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Anthracycline doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug, has one major drawback - its association with heart failure. A recent study by Washington State University researchers found that the protein FOXO1 plays a major role in heart damage.

FOXO1 acts as a transcription factor - a protein capable of binding to DNA and various genes and turning them on or off. Earlier research had shown a significant effect on the mass of the hearts of patients who took doxorubicin, with their hearts becoming smaller and endangering health.

Employing a rodent model, researchers demonstrated that with the use of FOXO1 inhibitor drugs, the damage could be suppressed. This resulted in the maintenance of heart cells and overall heart size and the prevention of doxorubicin-induced heart failure.

Turning Breast Cancer Cells Into Fat Cells to Prevent Metastasis

Atlanta-based entrepreneur Eugene E. Houchins III serves as president and CEO of American Life Fund Corp, helping those with life insurance coverage to receive funds to help pay for the treatment costs and living expenses associated with fighting serious illnesses. In addition to his work with American Life Fund Corp, Eugene E. Houchins III supports philanthropic cancer organizations that are seeking funds for research.

Last year, cancer researchers discovered a new way of preventing the spread of cancer cells throughout the body: changing them to fat cells. The new research could help to stop the metastasis or spread of cancer from primary tumors to other areas of the body and potentially slow the spread of the disease.

Researchers at the University of Basel, located in Switzerland, were able to use this element of cancer cell plasticity to force breast cancer cells to turn into fat cells, preventing them from moving freely throughout the body. In combination with chemotherapy, this new treatment could help prevent the growth of primary tumors as well as preventing metastasis.

The next steps to this research will involve exploring how this new form of treatment will work when used with conventional chemotherapy methods. Hopefully soon, there will be a new form of treatment available for cancer patients.