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New Advances in Chemotherapy: 'The Proof May be in the Sugar' Says Researchers
NEWTON, Mass., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Three years ago, Dr. Melanie
Bone, 43, a gynecologist was fighting for her life. She had been diagnosed with
stage three breast cancer, which required aggressive treatment. She underwent a
bilateral mastectomy, then endured six months of chemotherapy and 33 radiation
treatments before finally being declared cancer free.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031218/NYFNSG14 )
Chemotherapy drugs are very effective, but since they are indiscriminate --
meaning they target both cancer and healthy cells -- they can be toxic.
Pro-Pharmaceuticals, a drug development company in Newton, Mass., is conducting
human trials right now on a new drug that targets cancer cells and leaves
healthy cells alone. It's called DAVANAT-1.
"It's a sugar-based compound we believe can increase the human body's tolerance
to highly toxic chemotherapy drugs," says Dr. David Platt, CEO of
Pro-Pharmaceuticals.
While undergoing treatment, Dr. Bone became anemic, lost all her hair and her
ability to taste and smell. "The sores and ulcers that formed in my mouth made
drinking and eating very uncomfortable. At one point, my white blood count got
so low, I had to actually move out of my house. I have four kids and my doctor
was concerned they'd bring home a bug I couldn't fight off. Chemotherapy is what
ultimately cured me of cancer, but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I was
sick all the time." says Dr. Bone.
DAVANAT-1 is a combination of the highly effective chemotherapy drug 5-FU and
DAVANAT, a carbohydrate compound named after Dr. Platt and Dr. Anatole Klyosov,
the two scientists who developed it. "It is a sugar that looks for specific
receptors found only on the outside walls of cancer cells. This particular
carbohydrate is attracted to the lectin Galactin 3," says Dr. Platt.
DAVANAT encapsulates the anti-cancer drug prior to binding to the over-expressed
lectin receptors and guides them to the nucleus of the cancer cells. When inside
the cancer cell, the anti-cancer drug cleaves from DAVANAT and destroys the
cancer cell. By encompassing the anti-cancer drug, DAVANAT, prevents the drug
from being absorbed by normal healthy cells thereby reducing the anti-cancer
drug's overall toxic effects on the body.
In preclinical trials on mice, 400 percent greater levels of the cancer drug,
5-FU, effectively targeted tumors in mice injected with Davanat-1. Since the
healthy cells were left alone, side effects -- such as nausea, hair loss, and
fatigue were minimal. All of the patients invited to participate are considered
refractory patients -- meaning this is their last hope. They are in advanced
stages of cancer and conventional treatments -- radiation, surgery and
chemotherapy alone --have failed them.
"The treatment sounds very promising," says Dr. Bone. "I'm looking forward to
seeing the results of the human trials."
Once the results of the Phase l human trials are reported to the Food and Drug
Administration, the FDA will decide whether DAVANAT-1 should be added to the
arsenal of cancer fighting drugs.
For more details about the study, log onto http://www.pro-pharmaceuticals.com/
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031218/NYFNSG14
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
DATASOURCE: Pro-Pharmaceuticals
CONTACT: Janet Vasquez, +1-212-825-3210, for Pro-Pharmaceuticals
Web site: http://www.pro-pharmaceuticals.com/