|
SEATTLE, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Introgen
Therapeutics, Inc. today reported preclinical findings demonstrating that INGN 241, an
Adenoviral vector encoding the mda-7 gene, is a novel cytokine family member that exhibits
broad anticancer activity. INGN 241 can inhibit cell growth in multiple tumor types when
used alone or in combination with established therapies. These data were presented as
three separate studies at the Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gene
Therapy in Seattle, Washington.
Highlights of the studies include
- Potent in vitro anti-tumor activity in human breast cancer cells in
combination with Herceptin® or tamoxifen. This in vitro study, conducted by Sunil Chada,
Ph.D., director of research and development at Introgen, demonstrates that INGN 241 is
very potent in inhibiting breast cancer cell growth when combined with two molecular-based
therapies used to treat breast cancer, Herceptin® (Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody
against the Her2 receptor) and tamoxifen (also known as Nolvadex®, Tamofen and Genox,
which blocks the effect of estrogen, a female hormone which can stimulate the growth of
breast cancer cells). The addition of INGN 241 to the treatment regimen potently enhanced
the anti-tumor effect compared to each individual agent. The authors concluded that the
combination of a potent anti-tumor agent like INGN 241 with conventional anti-cancer
agents like Herceptin and tamoxifen will increase anti-cancer effects.
"This study shows that INGN 241 is a promising anti-cancer
agent that can be combined with conventional therapies for enhanced anti-tumor
effects," said Dr. Chada. "The ability to utilize molecular targets specific for
cancer cells may allow us to develop targeted therapies that selectively kill cancer cells
while leaving normal tissue unharmed. Further research with these promising gene/drug
combinations is warranted."
- Forced expression of mda-7 by adenoviral gene transfer causes
apoptotic cell death in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in vitro. In this study
conducted in collaboration with Roy Smythe, M.D., at
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, treatment of human MPM cells in
vitro with INGN 241 demonstrated programmed cell death, or apoptosis, with no observed
effect upon normal cells. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the lung for
which there is no effective treatment. Mesothelioma is unresponsive to most chemotherapy
and radiotherapy regimens, and it typically recurs even after the most aggressive attempts
at surgical resection. Thus, INGN 241 may provide a novel means of treating this incurable
cancer.
*** POSTED JUNE 14, 2001 ***
|
PATIENT PROFILES
