Professor Catharina Svanborg, a professor of immunology at Lund University in Sweden, speaks to BBC Science Focus commissioning editor Jason Goodyer a

Compound found in human breast milk has the potential to fight cancer

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2021-06-14 23:00:06

Professor Catharina Svanborg, a professor of immunology at Lund University in Sweden, speaks to BBC Science Focus commissioning editor Jason Goodyer about a molecule from breast milk with remarkable tumour killing properties dubbed ‘HAMLET’ – short for human alpha-lactalbumin – undergoing its first human trials.

We were looking for natural antibacterial molecules in body fluids. We threw some lung cancer cells into the test tube with human milk and noticed that the tumour cells died. We had to repeat it a few times before we could believe our eyes.

No, it wasn’t actually. Human milk is a source for all sorts of molecules – obviously, it’s a wonderful mix of molecular protection for babies. But we were using different fractions of it, because either you have antibodies, or you have small molecules, or you have sugars, or lipids. Depending on which fraction you’re using, you can get very different results. It turned out that one of these fractions was causing the tumours to die, but not whole milk as it comes out of the breast. It has to be treated a little to bring out the HAMLET molecule.

HAMLET has multiple effects on tumour cells. Cancer cells have a more primitive membrane than normal differentiated cells and it appears that HAMLET benefits from this. It inserts itself into the membrane and starts ion fluxes across it. Then, in the nucleus it binds to the very substance that the DNA and the proteins in the nucleus make. So, it’s a bit like pouring cement on these cells. They just can’t make new molecules and survive any longer.

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