Alva's Foundation files patent for synthesis of cancer curing molecules

MANGALURU: Research students and faculty of Alva's College and Alva's Institute of Engineering and Technology (AIET), Moodbidri are inching towards a permanent cure for cancer. The research team has synthesized many organic molecules, in which two novel methyl substituted chalcones, that is, (2Z) 1-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (MFNP) and (2Z) 1-(2, 5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-3-(2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (DMTTP) molecules have shown excellent cancer inhibition property.

This invention showed that MFNP and DMTTP molecules have high anticancer activity against breast, prostate cancer and leukemia. The research team includes under-graduate student Namratha W N, PhD research students - Sarveshwara H P and Sruthi, faculty Shashidhara Bhat, Jayarama A, Shashikumar, Richard Pinto with a collaborator Sriganesh Prabhu from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.

The anti-cancerous property of these molecules was tested at TATA Cancer Institute, Mumbai and has shown good anti-cancer properties for both breast cancer hand blood cancer. Further technical tests are going-on for use of these molecules on humans who are suffering from breast and blood cancer. The research team headed by Richard Pinto says that that these molecules will be potential medicines to cure cancer soon.

Alva's Education Foundation that manages the college and AIET filed a patent application (application 201941046359 dated November 14, 2019) for the process of synthesis of these two molecules. This research was funded by Alva's Education Foundation. The team is looking forward to make much more progress in these drugs ensuring to wipe out the grief due to life threatening cancer, Dr M Mohan Alva, chairman of the foundation, said.