A new study conducted by the University of Surrey found that the compound forskolin, found naturally in plants, may be effective in the treatment of an aggressive form of leukemia by directly impacting cancer growth and improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
The study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, examined the therapeutic effect of forskolin on KMT2A-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia (KMT2A-r AML). Forskolin was found to activate protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and stop the expression of the cancer-promoting genes MYC, HOXA9, and HOXA10. In addition, forskolin was found to make KMT2A-r AML cells more sensitive to the chemotherapy drug daunorubicin, independently of PP2A activation. The effect was due to forskolin blocking P-glycoprotein 1, which makes cancer cells less capable of pumping out the chemotherapy drug. By disabling the mechanism cancer cells use to make themselves more resistant to drugs, chemotherapy increases in its effectiveness.
"Our findings have highlighted an exciting dual mechanism of action for forskolin. Not only does it have direct anti-leukemic effects, but it also acts as a powerful enhancer to conventional chemotherapy. Combining forskolin with daunorubicin could lead to a more effective treatment strategy, potentially allowing for lower doses of chemotherapy and reducing the severe side effects often associated with AML treatments," said Maria Teresa Esposito, University of Surrey senior lecturer in biochemistry.