Light-directed drug delivery system slows growth of invasive tumours>
Light-directed drug delivery system slows growth of invasive tumours
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - PCI Biotech's photochemical technology shows clinical potential inmouse modelsOslo, 13 July, 2009 - PCI Biotech's light-activated drug deliverysystem is able to significantly slow the growth of an invasive tumourin mice, according to a new study. Researchers say the study providesnew evidence of the clinical potential of photochemicalinternalization (PCI) in treating human cancer.The study is the first to trial the PCI process on an aggressivetumour resembling that of human soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Currently,up to half of all patients newly diagnosed with STS die within fiveyears, with recurrence of tumours after surgery being an importantproblem. This study indicates that PCI could help to slow oreliminate recurrence of disease, by enhancing the delivery of drugsto the tumours.In previous experiments with the PCI technology, tumours wereimplanted just under the skin. In the current study, researchers atthe Norwegian Radium Hospital used a model where the tumours growinvasively into the leg muscles of mice to produce a more accuratemodel of human STS. The mice were treated with different combinationsof drug and light therapy whilst researchers measured how fast thetumours grew.When PCI was combined with the cytotoxic drug bleomycin, the tumourstook 27 days to reach the end point of 1000 mm3 compared to 6 dayswithout treatment, 7 days with bleomycin treatment only and 10 dayswhen an ordinary photodynamic therapy was used. According to theresearchers, PCI produced better treatment effects than photodynamictherapy because it was more effective at the periphery of the tumour,where a rim of treatment resistant tumour cells remains after PDTtreatment,. In addition previous studies have suggested that PCI alsohas better efficacy in deeper tissue layers.Drug molecules such as bleomycin are initially taken up by the cellin enclosed compartments or vesicles called endosomes. Unlike otherphotodynamic approaches, the PCI system uses photosensitizers thatlocalize to the membranes of these vesicles and, when activated bylight, cause them to burst. This releases the drug molecules insidethe cell, strongly enhancing the effect of the drug.The study, by Dr. Ole-Jacob Norum and co-workers, is published in thejournal Photochemistry and Photobiology. It has been highlighted as avery interesting study by the American Society of Photobiology on itshome page.Dr. Anders Høgset, Chief Scientific Officer of PCI Biotech, comments:"The subsistence of a rim of treatment resistant cells in the tumourperiphery is a well-known problem, both after photodynamic therapyand in other cancer treatment modalities. The demonstration in thisstudy that the PCI technology can also target such cells furthersubstantiates the clinical usefulness of the PCI technology. This isone of several studies emphasizing the important contribution fromthe researchers at The Norwegian Radium Hospital in exploring thepotential of the PCI technology, and it will be interesting to see ifa further development of the principles described in this study canlead to treatment conditions where even invasive tumours can bepermanently removed."Notes to editorsPCI Biotech is a Norwegian biopharmaceutical company developing anovel light directed drug delivery system based on its patentedphotochemical internalisation (PCI) technology. Originating fromworld leading research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, the PCImethod involves first injecting target cells with a photosensitiser.Therapeutic molecules are then delivered to the cells and when theseare illuminated the cells' endosomes are ruptured to allow successfuldelivery of the drug.PCI can enhance the delivery of all molecules taken into the cell byendocytosis. This includes most types of macromolecules, drugscarried by antibodies or nanoparticles, as well as some smallmolecule drugs. In addition, PCI can facilitate the use of efficient,but very toxic anti-cancer compounds, by restricting their effects tothe target site.PCI Biotech follows a dual strategy of using its technology toimprove the effect both of existing drugs and of emerging treatmentssuch as gene therapy. PCI Biotech's first clinical study combines theproprietary photosensitiser Amphinex® with the cytotoxic agentbleomycin and is scheduled for start in 2009.For more information visit: www.pcibiotech.comContact:Per WaldayChief Executive OfficerOffice: +47 2325 4002Mobile: +47 917 93 429Email: pw(at)pcibiotech.noFor international press enquiries:Richard HayhurstHayhurst MediaTel: +44 (0) 7711821527Email: richard(at)hayhurstmedia.comThis announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Datum: 13.07.2009 - 11:52 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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