[tt] [Fwd: [GRG] PRESS RELEASE: Cancer-resistant mouse discovered]

[Brian Atkins]

So I think we have at least two different types of cancer-proof mice now.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [GRG] PRESS RELEASE: Cancer-resistant mouse discovered
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:25:58 -0800 (PST)
From: James Clement <clementlaw at yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Gerontology Research Group <grg at lists.ucla.edu>
To: GRG LIST <grg at lists.ucla.edu>

PRESS RELEASE: Cancer-resistant mouse discovered
Cancer-resistant mouse discovered
LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 27, 2007) − A mouse resistant to cancer, even 
highly-aggressive types, has been created by researchers at the University of 
Kentucky. The breakthrough stems from a discovery by UK College of Medicine 
professor of radiation medicine Vivek Rangnekar and a team of researchers who 
found a tumor-suppressor gene called "Par-4" in the prostate.

The researchers discovered that the Par-4 gene kills cancer cells, but not 
normal cells. There are very few molecules that specifically fight against 
cancer cells, giving it a potentially therapeutic application.

Funded by several grants from the National Institutes of Health, Rangnekar's 
study is unique in that mice born with this gene are not developing tumors. The 
mice grow normally and have no defects. In fact, the mice possessing Par-4 
actually live a few months longer than the control animals, indicating that they 
have no toxic side effects.

"We originally discovered Par-4 in the prostate, but it's not limited to the 
prostate. The gene is expressed in every cell type that we've looked at and it 
induces the death of a broad range of cancer cells, including of course, cancer 
cells in the prostate," said Rangnekar. "The interesting part of this study is 
that this killer gene is selective for killing cancer cells. It will not kill 
normal cells and there are very, very few selective molecules out there like this."

To further investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of this gene, 
Rangnekar's team introduced it into the egg of a mouse. That egg was then 
planted into a surrogate mother.

"The mouse itself does not express a large number of copies of this gene, but 
the pups do and then their pups start expressing the gene," Rangnekar said. "So, 
we've been able to transfer this activity to generations in the mouse."

The implications for humans could be that through bone marrow transplantation, 
the Par-4 molecule could potentially be used to fight cancer cells in patients 
without the toxic and damaging side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

"When a cancer patient goes to the clinic, they undergo chemotherapy or 
radiation and there are potential side effects associated with these 
treatments," Rangnekar said. "We got interested in looking for a molecule which 
will kill cancer cells and not kill normal cells, but also would not be toxic 
with regard to the production of side effects to the entire organism. We are 
thinking of this in a holistic approach that not only would get rid of the 
tumor, but also not harm the organism as a whole. Before this animal study, we 
published a lot of work indicating that in cell culture, there's no killing of 
normal cells. This is the proof that it doesn’t kill normal cells because the 
mouse is alive and healthy."

Rangnekar admits there is much more work to be done before this research can be 
applied to humans, but agrees that is the most logical next step.
"I look at this research from the standpoint of how it can be developed to the 
benefit of the cancer patient and that's really what keeps us focused all this 
time," said Rangnekar. "If you look at the pain that cancer patients go through, 
not just from the disease, but also from the treatment – it's excruciating. If 
you have someone in your family, like I did, who has gone through that, you know 
you can see that pain. If you can not only treat the cancer, but also not harm 
the patient, that's a major breakthrough. That's happening with these animals 
and I think that's wonderful."

###
The research was published in the October edition of the journal Cancer 
Research. Dr. Rangnekar holds the Alfred Cohen, M.D., Endowed Chair in Oncology 
Research, and serves as the associate director (for translational research), at 
the Markey Cancer Center.
In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of 
Kentucky is a catalyst for a new Commonwealth – a Kentucky that is healthier, 
better educated, and positioned to compete in a global and changing economy. For 
more information about UK’s efforts to become a Top 20 university, please go to 
http://www.uky.edu/OPBPA/Top20.html [1].



Source URL:
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/press-release-cancer-resistant-mouse-discovered 

Links:
[1] http://www.uky.edu/OPBPA/Top20.html

-- 
Brian Atkins
Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/