A Mayo Clinic study is saying that Panzem, a drug that has shown promise in the treatment of sarcoma and lung and brain cancer, may also be effective in treating and preventing the spread of breast cancer.
Panzem, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), is derived from estrogen and works by suppressing tumor growth and by blocking the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors. It has the ability to make cancer cells self-destruct (apoptosis). Cells already have the ability to self-destruct when damaged or infected with a virus but if the cells does not do so, it can develop into a tumor.
"2ME2 could benefit patients because this single drug essentially combines the effects of chemotherapy (which destroys cancer cells) and antiangiogenesis drugs (which destroy blood vessels that feed tumors). Targeting metastatic tumors at sites of metastasis would be of great benefit for patients who have advanced cancer. Destroying tumors in bone and also slowing the development of osteolytic lesions would be desirable therapies and greatly improve the prognosis of patients who have bone metastasis," states Muzaffer Cicek, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cell biologist in endocrine research and the corresponding author of the study.
While 2ME2 has been tested on other forms of cancer, it has not been tested on humans for breast cancer, the Mayo Clinic's trial involved lab mice, so researchers need to replicate and test the drug in clinical trials.
[Source PRNewsWire]
"Panzem, a drug that has shown promise in the treatment of sarcoma and lung and brain cancer"
Interesting info... will check it out the article..
Posted by: Online Cancer Guide Blog | November 2, 2007 5:47 AM | Permalink to Comment