New drug cancer shrinks in animals

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A study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center was animal studies, that new cancer of drug compounds, they developed shrank tumors, with few side effects.

The study in two mouse models of human cancer, saw two connections that enable a protein that kills the cancer cells. The protein p53, is disabled in a significant number of human cancers. In some cases, it is because a different protein, MDM2, binds to p53 and its tumor suppressor function blocks. This is the tumor to grow unchecked. The new links block MDM2 from bind to p53, thus enable p53.

"For the first time, we have shown that by our MDM2 inhibitors very potent and optimized complete tumor regression in a mouse model of human cancer, can reach activation of p53", says lead study author Shaomeng Wang, PhD., Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis, Professor in medicine and Director of cancer drug discovery program at the U-M comprehensive cancer center.

Wang presented the study at the American Association for cancer research 102nd Annual meeting.

Many traditional cancer drugs enable also p53, but it so by DNA damage in tumor cells and normal cells, cause side effects. This new MDM2 inhibitors activate p53 prevents the DNA damage often with other drugs. In this study, which was carried out in cooperation with Ascenta Therapeutics and Sanonfi-Aventis, researchers showed that these new drugs shrank tumours without significant side effects.

Being involved in p53 in all types of human cancer, the new drug has potential to be used in several types of cancer. In addition certain markers in tumors identified the researchers predict, which particularly sensitive to the MDM2 inhibitor, the doctors that benefit drug only for patients would allow most likely targets.

Note for patients: no clinical studies are currently inhibitors is carried out with this MDM2. U-M researchers continue to work with Ascenta and Sanofi-aventis to develop testing these compounds and clinical studies. Information on clinical trials currently available cancer please visit UMClinicalStudies.org

Various authors: Wei Sun, Shanghai Yu, Yu-jun Zhao, Sanjeev Kumar, Donna McEachern, Liu Liu, Denzil Bernard, Duxin Sun, Peng Zou, Xiaqin Li, Han yi, Jeanne Stuckey, Jianting long and Sami Malek, all from U-M; Dajun Yang, Sanmao Kang, Ming Guo, Brian Wood, Lance Leopold and Mel Sørensen from Ascenta Therapeutics; Cedric Barrière, Isabelle Meaux, Odette dos Santos, Jean-Christophe carry, Pierre-Yves Abecassis, Anne Charlier, Vincent Ferey, Carlos García Echeverría, Christophe Lengauer and Laurent Debussche of sanofi-aventis

Finance: National Cancer Institute, Ascenta Therapeutics and Sanofi-Aventis.

Disclosure: Shaomeng Wang has stock and stock options in Ascenta and serves as a consultant for Ascenta. This new MDM2 inhibitors have for Ascenta Therapeutics, then was licensed under license to clinical development, sanofi-aventis and the University of Michigan receives milestone payments and royalties.

Reference: American Association for cancer research 102nd Annual meeting, April 2-6, 2011, Orlando, FLA., abstract No. LB-204-optimized and very potent small molecule inhibitors MDM2 achieve complete tumor regression in animal models of solid tumors and leukemia

Source:
University of Michigan health system