Hi, I’m Aastha, and welcome to Live Longer World.
Today’s interview with Dr. Mustafa Djamgoz is part of my series with Dr. Michael Levin where we interview significant people in the history of developmental bioelectricity.
Dr. Mustafa was one of the first people to study the role of ion channels and bioelectricity in cancer, which he initially documented in a 1995 paper. His research showed that there was an uptake in voltage-gated sodium channels in all types of cancer metastasis, except prostate cancer, highlighting the significant role of studying ion channels in cancer.
Simply put, the spread of cancer cells is linked to increased activity in sodium ion channels, which regulate electrical currents in our cells.
Timestamps below capture the topics we discussed.
Note: The conversation can get technical in parts. In the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing some essays explaining the basics of bioelectricity which will hopefully pave the way to a deeper understanding of the field for those who are interested.
Watch on YouTube. Listen on Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Find the links, papers referenced and timestamps below.
Follow me on X @aasthajs for more on longevity. Hope you enjoy the conversation!
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Timestamps:
0:00 Playing with radios at age 17 to bioelectricity cancer research
4:31 Advice for young people entering bioelectricity
9:02 Biophysics and Cancer neuroscience
17:55 Role of bioelectricity in cancer
27:02 Cancer metastasis and ion channels
28:49 Sodium channel uptake and cancer invasiveness
36:59 Ranolazine, potential anti-metastatic drug
43:45 Funding for bioelectricity cancer research
50:21 Advice for cancer patients
Bioelectricity and Cancer w/ Michael Levin