Cedarville University Professor Leads Breakthrough Cancer Research

Dr. Samson Amos, Chair and Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Cedarville University, has been making great strides in his research to find new treatments for cancer. As a cancer researcher, Amos has been studying the effects of natural products on different disease states in Nigeria and in the United States for over 20 years now. Amos’s encounters with women with cancer and patients with brain tumors prompted him to explore alternative treatments to the current standard of care for cancer, Temozolomide.

The Road to Cancer Research

Amos found his calling to research cancer when he heard a woman’s persistent cries while walking to his village in Nigeria. The woman had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and pleaded, “Samson, please help women like me.” Moved with compassion, Amos began working for the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Abuja, Nigeria, as a researcher and professor, where he studied the effects of natural products on various diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and sickle cell disease.

Amos then moved to the United States, where he trained at the University of Virginia to better understand the molecular basis of cancer growth, specifically in the brain and prostate. Ten years later, Amos joined Cedarville University’s faculty in the school of pharmacy, where he continued researching cancer cells and the molecular basis of cancer growth.

Exploring the Effects of Natural Products in Treating Brain Tumors

Amos’s current research focuses on the effects of natural products in treating brain tumors, particularly glioblastomas, which remain challenging to manage clinically. Temozolomide, the current standard of care for glioblastoma, has a minimal clinical outcome, and its high dosage is associated with resistance and severe side effects. Amos raised an important question: could lower doses of Temozolomide be used in combination with natural products, which his research has shown to have an impact on different disease states, to better target glioblastomas and other cancers?

Working alongside his team of Cedarville Doctor of Pharmacy students, Amos conducted in vitro studies, which showed that the combination of a low dose of Temozolomide and two different natural products found in plants is synergistic in treating brain tumors. These preliminary results are promising and provide a significant opportunity to continue the research.

The Impact of Cancer Research on Pharmacy Students

Amos believes that cancer research is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Cedarville students to make a significant kingdom impact as they enter the healthcare field as professionals. Amos’s research often requires the help of his students, and by coming alongside them in their passion, they can add value to the cancer research field. Amos also desires to ensure that when students graduate from Cedarville, they have all they need to be successful clinicians, as well as reflect Christ’s genuine and compassionate care for all humanity.

Final Thoughts

Amos’s cancer research provides hope and inspiration to cancer patients and those researching the disease. Amos’s commitment to finding solutions for cancer through natural products, along with his desire to guide the next generation of professionals, showcases Cedarville University’s dedication to academic excellence and social impact.

Originally Post From https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9110297/are-natural-products-the-solution-to-cancer-treatment

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