Reduced Coenzyme Q10 Mitigates Anticancer Drug Toxicity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anticancer agents face challenges in selectively targeting cancer cells without affecting normal cells, leading to severe adverse reactions and a narrow margin between effective and toxic doses, necessitating the development of safer alternatives with reduced adverse reactions.
Innovation Solution
The use of reduced coenzyme Q, specifically in the form of reduced coenzyme Q10, as an active ingredient in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and food products to mitigate adverse reactions of anticancer agents by suppressing abnormal cell proliferation and carcinogenesis, thereby allowing for reduced dosages of anticancer agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anticancer agents are administered to treat cancer, then cancer cells can be targeted and treated, but severe adverse reactions occur and normal cells are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coenzyme Q10 as an intermediary substance that mediates between the anticancer agent and normal cells. Coenzyme Q10 acts as a protective agent that reduces the harmful effects of anticancer drugs on normal cells while preserving their anticancer activity, thereby resolving the contradiction between treatment efficacy and adverse reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful oxidative stress caused by anticancer agents into a beneficial effect by administering coenzyme Q10, which acts as an antioxidant. The oxidative stress that would normally damage normal cells is instead harnessed to enhance the anticancer effect, while coenzyme Q10 protects normal cells from damage
2Reliability
If the dosage of anticancer agents is increased to improve treatment efficacy, then cancer treatment effectiveness increases, but the margin between effective and toxic doses becomes narrower
Solution Approach 1:
Coenzyme Q10 serves as a protective intermediary that allows higher dosages of anticancer agents to be administered safely. By reducing the toxicity of high-dose anticancer agents, coenzyme Q10 expands the safety margin, enabling dosages to be increased for better efficacy without proportionally increasing toxic effects
3Ease of operation
If chemically synthesized drugs are used to treat cancer, then treatment can be provided, but safety issues arise and adverse reactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Coenzyme Q10 acts as a safety-enhancing intermediary that can be combined with chemically synthesized anticancer drugs. This combination maintains the ease of administering synthetic drugs while significantly improving safety by reducing their inherent toxicity and adverse reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the treatment regimen by introducing coenzyme Q10, which has different chemical properties (antioxidant characteristics) compared to synthetic anticancer drugs. This parameter change transforms the safety profile of the treatment while maintaining its effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduced coenzyme Q10 effectively reduces adverse reactions in cancer patients by suppressing abnormal cell proliferation and carcinogenesis, enhancing the safety and efficacy of anticancer treatments while minimizing physical and mental suffering.
Implementation Method 1
coenzyme Q in vivo mostly occurs in reduced form; once absorbed in the body, oxidized coenzyme Q is converted to the reduced form by reductase in the cells
Implementation Method 2
coenzyme Q is a substance that is essential for the maintenance of the functions of living organisms, known to be localized in mitochondria, lysosome, Golgi apparatus, microsome, peroxysome, cell membrane and the like, and to be involved as a component of the mitochondrial electron transfer system in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production activation
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a carcinogenesis suppressing agent, cancer therapeutic agent, or agent for mitigating adverse reactions of anticancer agents, which is ingestible on a daily basis and with low prevalence of adverse reactions, comprising a reduced coenzyme Q as an active ingredient. The agents are useful as pharmaceuticals, cosmeceutical, cosmetics, foods such as functional foods (supplements, health aid foods, nutritional supplementary foods, nutrient-fortified foods, nutrient-adjusted foods, health beverages, foods for specified health uses, foods with nutrient function claims), animal drugs, animal feeds, or animal foods.