 |
|
Inhibiting cell process may give cancer drug a boost
May 04, 2006A molecule that interferes with the internal scaffolding that shapes the cell may kill cancer cells, retard the growth of tumors and give a boost to a common chemotherapy drug, according to findings appearing in the May 3 issue of the European Journal of Cancer.
Although tumor growth depends on the rapid cell division and mobility of cancer cells - processes highly dependent on the cytoskeleton - the cytoskeleton has not been a target in treating cancer, said Primal de Lanerolle, professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and principal author of the study.
The researchers found that ML-7, which inhibits an enzyme called myosin light chain kinase, which is important to the structure and dynamics of the cytoskeleton, induces cell suicide, or apoptosis, in cultured breast and prostate cancer cell lines. In addition, treatment with ML-7 in combination with etoposide, a chemotherapy drug used to treat solid tumors, enhanced the ability of etoposide to kill cancer cells.
In animal models, ML-7 retarded growth of breast cancer and prostate cancer tumors. The combination of ML-7 and etoposide reduced tumor growth by 88.5 percent for the breast cancer tumors and by 79.1 percent in the prostate cancer tumors compared to controls.
Like many chemotherapy drugs, etoposide can have adverse side effects.
"Reducing the dose of the drug without losing effectiveness would have important clinical benefits," said de Lanerolle. "ML-7 seemed to be tolerated very well, without any overt toxic side effects of its own."
The study suggests an entirely new target for cancer therapies, de Lanerolle said. "Our study supports the idea that the cytoskeleton is important in determining whether cells live or die, and that destabilizing the cytoskeleton may be a good way to induce apoptosis in cancer cells."
Researchers now must test ML-7 for toxicity and perform further preliminary animal experiments before human trials could be planned. Only a tiny fraction of promising candidate drugs enter clinical trials, and few of those are approved.
University of Illinois at Chicago
In animal models, ML-7 retarded growth of breast cancer and prostate cancer tumors. The combination of ML-7 and etoposide reduced tumor growth by 88.5 percent for the breast cancer tumors and by 79.1 percent in the prostate cancer tumors compared to controls.
Like many chemotherapy drugs, etoposide can have adverse side effects.
"Reducing the dose of the drug without losing effectiveness would have important clinical benefits," said de Lanerolle. "ML-7 seemed to be tolerated very well, without any overt toxic side effects of its own."
The study suggests an entirely new target for cancer therapies, de Lanerolle said. "Our study supports the idea that the cytoskeleton is important in determining whether cells live or die, and that destabilizing the cytoskeleton may be a good way to induce apoptosis in cancer cells."
Researchers now must test ML-7 for toxicity and perform further preliminary animal experiments before human trials could be planned. Only a tiny fraction of promising candidate drugs enter clinical trials, and few of those are approved.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Cancer Drug Current Events and Cancer Drug News RSSAileron collaborates study in Nature: Stapled peptides inhibit Notch1 transcription factor
This research validates the potential for Stapled Peptides to modulate key intracellular biological targets, such as transcription factors, that have not been addressable with current small molecule or biologic drug modalities.
Researchers 'notch' a victory toward new kind of cancer drug
Scientists have devised an innovative way to disarm a key protein considered to be "undruggable," meaning that all previous efforts to develop a drug against it have failed.
FDA approved leukemia drugs shows promise in ovarian cancer cells
The drug Sprycel, approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, significantly inhibited the growth and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and also promoted their death, a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found.
Duke develops nano-scale drug delivery for chemotherapy
Going smaller could bring better results, especially when it comes to cancer-fighting drugs.
Researchers use drug-radiation combo to eradicate lung cancer
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have eliminated non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer in mice by using an investigative drug called BEZ235 in combination with low-dose radiation.
Sensor biochips could aid in cancer diagnosis and treatment
It is very difficult to predict whether a cancer drug will help an individual patient: only around one third of drugs will work directly in a given patient.
Metals could forge new cancer drug
Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to research at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds.
OU Part of International Study on Genetic Impact of Radiation
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are helping to lead a massive international study on the possible genetic effects of radiation and cancer drug exposures on future generations.
New Chemo Cocktail Blocks Breast Cancer Like a Fence
Think of a protective fence that blocks the neighbor's dog from charging into your backyard. The body, too, has fences -- physical and biochemical barriers that keep cells in their place.
Pancreatic cancer: Researchers find drug that reverses resistance to chemotherapy
For the first time researchers have shown that by inhibiting the action of an enzyme called TAK-1, it is possible to make pancreatic cancer cells sensitive to chemotherapy, opening the way for the development of a new drug to treat the disease.
More Cancer Drug Current Events and Cancer Drug News Articles
 |
Physicians' Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Manual: 2009 by Edward Chu (Author), Vincent DeVita Jr. (Author) Completely revised and updated for 2009, the Physicians Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Manual is an up-to-date guide to the latest information on standard therapy and recent advances in the field. Written by world-class experts in the clinical cancer therapeutics, this essential reference provides a complete, easy-to-use catalogue of over 100 drugs and commonly used drug regimens both on-and off-label for the treatment of all the major cancers. Special features: Features new drugs: Bendamustine, Ixabepilone, and Nilotinib; Revised to reflect rapid advances in the field, incorporating new drug and treatment strategies; diagrams of drug structures and pathways for each agent; Offers a comprehensive discussion of clinical pharmacology, special considerations, indications, and dosages; Covers... |
 |
Nova - Cancer Warrior Starring: Liev Schreiber Directed By: Nancy Linde Studio: Wgbh Wholesale Release Date: 10/02/2001 Run time: 60 minutes |
 |
Cancer Man Starring: Charles Baker, Frederic Doss, Matt L. Jones, Aaron Paul, Steven Michael Quezada Also With: Sony Home Entertainment (Producer) |
 |
Water: The New Immune Breakthrough & Pain and Cancer "Wonder Drug"" by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. - 2 C by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D 90 Minute Lecture AUDIO-CD at Capitol University of Integrative Medicine. Explaining the direct link between persistent unintentional dehydration and cancer formation in the body.Water: The New Immune Breakthrough & Pain and Cancer "Wonder Drug"" by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. - 2 CD Set |
 |
Drugs That Fight Cancer / TIME Cover: May 28, 2001, Art Poster by TIME Magazine by barewalls The most eagerly awaited event in the editorial cycle at TIME Magazine is always the selection of the cover. The best covers capture the zeitgeist of the week while surviving the judgment of history. As browsing this collection of TIME cover art prints shows, TIME is as good a record as any of who and what mattered over the past 80-plus years. And so when TIME captures a person, an event or a trend within its iconic red borders, the magazine is adding that extra dose of significance that no other publication can quite match. That is one reason why the original artwork for more than 800 TIME covers now resides in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Thanks to an amazing roster of artists, photographers and graphic designers, from TIME's earliest charcoal drawings of cover subjects... |
 |
Drugs Denis Leary (Primary Contributor) |
 |
Surviving Terminal Cancer: Clinical Trials, Drug Cocktails, and Other Treatments Your Oncologist Won't Tell You About by Ben A. Williams (Author) (Fairview Press) Univ. of California, San Diego. Consumer text explains how patients can improve their odds for survival by demanding control over their health care, research conventional and alternative treatments, creating their own treatment strategy, and using the Internet to learn of new medical advances. Softcover. |
 |
BMV Quantum Subliminal CD Chemotherapy Aid (Ultrasonic Peak Health Series) Program your subconscious mind to maximize your health, improve self-healing during the chemotherapy process and reduce negative symptoms and negative side-effects related to chemo treatment. Using exclusive state-of-the-art subliminal and brainwave entrainment technologies, you can program your subconscious mind for positive lasting results, created by a Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Silent affirmations, inaudible hypnotic suggestions and thousands of powerful subliminal messages program your subconscious mind for positive results. The first 3 tracks have an ocean background. The Silent Ultrasonic Track 4 is completely silent with no sound at all! BMV exclusive Quantum Subliminal Matrix Technology sets a new standard for the subliminal... |
 |
He Loves Me - He Loves Me Not (DVD) by Lorraine Day, M.D. |
 |
Healing Cancer: Complementary Vitamin & Drug Treatments by Abram Hoffer (Author), Linus Pauling (Author) Complementary vitamin supplement program for treating cancer and for supporting chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical treatments, with 100 case studies. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |